Clinical application of kelp micro gelation (KMG) in partial splenic embolization

We aimed to compare and analyze the long-term efficacy and safety between kelp micro gelation (KMG) and gelfoam particles in partial splenic embolization (PSE).

This study retrospectively included 65 liver cirrhosis patients with comorbidity of hypersplenism who were admitted in Nanfang Hospital from July 2008 to May 2012. Among the included patients, 33 patients were in KMG-PSE group, and 32 cases were included in Gelfoam-PSE group. According to the Child-Pugh criteria, all cases were divided into grade A, B, and C, respectively. All eligible subjects received CT or MR examination and laboratory examination.

Our results showed that both KMG and gelfoam particles could substantially improve the short-term efficacy of thrombocytopenia leukopenia. However, the efficacy of KMG is superior to that of gelfoam. Due to the characteristic of KMG as a permanent agent, KMG may result in an obvious pain in the spleen after PSE, especially in patients with megalosplenia. KMG was more expensive than gelfoam particles. The complication rate in patents with great embolization was much higher than that with less embolization.

The efficacy of KMG is superior to that of gelfoam in both short-term and long-term. To effectively control the occurrence of severe complication, the embolization should be controlled less than 70% regardless of the embolization agents.