Embolisation of bleeding pelvic lesions from benign origin--long-term results

Long-term outcome and survival after emergency embolisation of life-threatening bleeding caused by non-malignant small pelvic lesions were analysed and related to the techniques and embolisation materials used. Emergency transcatheter embolisation was performed in 11 patients, heavily bleeding from uterine arteriovenous malformations (4 patients), pelvic fractures (4 patients), Endoxan induced cystitis (1 patient), haemorrhoids (1 patient) and polyposis recti (1 patient) using GAW-coils. Ethibloc and Gelfoam strips as embolisation materials, alone or in combination. Follow-up was obtained up to 7.5 years with analysis of survival. Only in one patient, with terminal hepatic insufficiency and severe disturbance of coagulation, recurrent bleeding occurred 1 month after embolisation. Two other patients died during follow-up for other reasons (cardiac insufficiency at 17 months, ileus at 52 months). Complications in relation to the embolisation therapy did not occur. In conclusion, percutaneous transcatheter embolisation is a safe and effective procedure in severe hemorrhage resulting from non-malignant lesions of the pelvis.