[Therapeutic embolization of the liver (author's transl)]

The authors present their experience with 18 cases of hepatic arterial embolization: 9 for neoplasm, 8 for hemorrhage and 1 for vascular malformation. Aside from contral of acute arterial bleeding, this angiographic technique has extended its indications to the preoperative or palliative treatment of hepatic primary and secondary tumors and also to non surgical treatment of arterovenous and malformations. Compared to surgical ligation, embolization, being highly selective, produces less damage to the normal parenchyma. In case of inoperable tumors embolization produces some improvement of general conditions and has analgesic effect; while when operation is possible it may act as a preoperative devascularization procedure. Finally with employment of non absorbable material embolization may substitute surgery in presence of arterovenous malformation. The procedure has no controindications but it is essential that hepatic function is preserved and that portal flow dynamics are not altered. Among laboratory data to be investigated blood glucose level is particularly important since it may reveal ischemic damage. Possible complications due to reflux of emboli can be avoided with a correct technique and with some simple acquirements.