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Microcatheter embolization of hemorrhages
S K Seppänen1, M J Leppänen, G Pimenoff
1Department of Radiology, Tampere University Hospital, Finland.
Purpose:
To evaluate the efficacy of embolotherapy using microcatheters in patients with hemorrhage from various locations.
Methods:
Among 29 patients there were 13 with severe epistaxis, 7 with gastrointestinal bleeding, 4 with hemorrhage in the kidney, 4 with bleeding in pelvic organs and 1 with bleeding in the shoulder region. In all cases, a Tracker-18 or Tracker-10 microcatheter was advanced coaxially through a 4.1 Fr guiding catheter in order to reach the bleeding site as distally as possible. Polyvinyl alcohol microparticles and/or platinum microcoils were used as embolic material.
Results:
The bleeding was stopped in 90% (26 of 29) of cases. In 66% of cases the treatment was curative, in 7% preoperative, and in 17% palliative. There were 3 clinical failures.
Conclusion:
Microcatheter embolization is an effective and safe means of managing different kinds of hemorrhage of various causes from a variety of sites.