[Transcatheteral embolization with polyvinyl alcohol--technic and experimental studies]

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Vascular Surgery
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Embolisation is a crucial medical procedure for treating various vascular conditions.
• Current embolisation materials have limitations in terms of biocompatibility, sealing permanence, and applicability across different vessel sizes.
• Development of novel, effective, and safe embolisation agents is an ongoing area of research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate hardened polyvinyl alcohol foam (PVA) as a potential embolisation material.
• To assess the efficacy of PVA in achieving permanent vascular sealing in a range of vessel diameters.
• To investigate the biocompatibility and physical properties of PVA for embolisation applications.

Main Methods:

• Hardened polyvinyl alcohol foam (PVA) was prepared and characterized.
• The material's ability to occlude arteries of approximately 100 microns in diameter was tested.
• The efficacy of pressed PVA in sealing larger vessels up to 8 mm in diameter was evaluated.
• The re-expansion properties of PVA in liquids, influenced by osmolarity and molecular size, were studied.

Main Results:

• Hardened PVA demonstrated successful embolisation of peripheral arteries as small as 100 microns.
• Permanent vascular sealing was achieved with PVA in vessels up to 8 mm in diameter.
• Pressed PVA effectively occluded larger vessels, with significant compression and re-expansion capabilities (fourfold to tenfold).
• PVA exhibited good tissue tolerance.

Conclusions:

• Hardened polyvinyl alcohol foam (PVA) is a promising embolisation material with broad applicability.
• PVA provides permanent vascular sealing and is well-tolerated by tissues.
• The material's tunable physical properties make it suitable for both microvascular and macrovascular embolisation procedures.