[Results and technical problems of therapeutic vascular embolization with special reference to the use of spirals...

31 therapeutic vascular embolizations were performed: 4 for osteolytic lesions; 24 for renal tumors and 3 for malignant hypertension in 3 patients with chronic pyelonephritis and corresponding bilateral kidney shrinkage with the kidneys left in the patients (- one patient being put on chronic dialysis and 2 having undergone renal transplantation). Opacifying chemical substances (Ethibloc) and non-opacifying chemical substances (Fibrospum, Butyl-2-Cyanoacrylat) were sometimes used for embolization; but most of the time, metal spiral (licenced by Gianturco) were taken, because of the following advantages: Their insertion is simple and easily controlled by fluoroscopy; they cause less pain, and they induce progressive thrombosis in the embolised artery. In cases, however, where catheterisation is difficult or impossible (narrow lumen/collaterals), embolization with chemical substances has to be done in addition to that by spiral.