Steel coil embolization of hepatoportal fistulae

Two patients with portal hypertension secondary to hepatoportal fistulae, of nontraumatic origin, were treated by transcatheter embolization of feeding hepatic artery branches with Gianturco-Anderson-Wallace steel coils. Both patients demonstrated immediate improvement of the symptoms related to their portal hypertension, 1 patient needing no further treatment after 3 years. It is concluded that using steel coils for this purpose is more effective and safer than other materials such as Gel-foam, and may cure portal hypertension in some cases.