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The purpose of this retrospective study is to assess the radiological and clinical outcome of transcatheter embolization of acquired uterine vascular malformations in patients presenting with secondary postpartum or postabortion vaginal hemorrhage. In a cohort of 17 patients (mean age: 29.7 years; standard deviation: 4.23; range: 25-38 years) 18 embolization procedures were performed. Angiography demonstrated a uterine parenchymal hyperemia with normal drainage into the large pelvic veins ("low-flow uterine vascular malformation") in 83% (n=15) or a direct arteriovenous fistula ("high-flow uterine vascular malformation") in 17% (n=3). Clinically, in all patients the bleeding stopped after embolization but in 1 patient early recurrence of hemorrhage occurred and was treated by hysterectomy. Pathological analysis revealed a choriocarcinoma. During follow-up (mean time period: 18.8 months; range: 1-36 months) 6 patients became pregnant and delivered a healthy child. Transcatheter embolization of the uterine arteries, using microparticles, is safe and highly effective in the treatment of a bleeding acquired uterine vascular malformation. In case of clinical failure, an underlying neoplastic disease should be considered. Future pregnancy is still possible after embolization.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate possible pain sensation differences in patients after retrograde varicocele embolization either with n-butyl-(2)-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) or with n-butyl-(2)-cyanoacrylate + methacryloxysulfolane (NBCA-MS). Transcatheter varicocele embolization was performed in 64 consecutive patients (62 left, two bilateral). Embolization was done with NBCA (n=32) or NBCA-MS (n=32). Immediately after the procedure, patients were asked to evaluate pain during embolization using a visual analog scale (VAS). Statistical analysis was done with Student's t test. Mean pain score on VAS was 3.23 (range: 0-8) for NBCA and 3.28 (range 0-9) for NBCA-MS. This difference was not significant (P=0.932). Independently of the type of glue, no difference in pain sensation (P value 0.421) was found between patients younger than 18 (n=29) and patients older than 18 years of age (n=35) (younger than18, mean 3.52; older than 18, mean 3.05). No difference in mean pain experience level (P=0.323) was seen in 11 patients with vessel wall perforation (23.4%) during the procedure (3.89; range: 0-8.5) in comparison with those without perforation (mean pain sensation level: 3.13; range: 0-9). No difference in pain experience was found after transcatheter varicocele embolization either with NBCA or NBCA-MS. Age and vessel wall perforation have no influence on pain sensation independently of the type of glue.

Objective: Nephron-sparing surgery has become an accepted treatment technique for renal cell carcinoma in properly selected patients. Although rare, major postoperative hemorrhage can occur and is usually accompanied by gross hematuria with or without acute flank pain at the site of prior surgery. In this retrospective study, the immediate radiologic and clinical success and the long-term follow-up of transcatheter embolization are evaluated., Conclusion: Transcatheter selective embolization is a safe and effective technique for appropriate management of this postoperative vascular complication.

Pseudoaneurysm formation is a rare, but potentially life threatening delayed complication of major pancreatic surgery. Redo surgery several weeks after pancreaticoduodenectomy can be hazardous, especially in debilitated patients. Percutaneous, transcatheter exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm by means of embolic coils can be an efficient, safe and minimally invasive alternative to open surgery with good mid- and long-term results. We present our experience in Three patients undergoing transcatheter embolization of hepatic artery pseudoaneurysms detected several weeks after Whipple's operation.

The authors report an unusual case of a dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) in the cervical spine after a C1-2 fracture. The patient presented with a delayed epidural hematoma and quadriparesis. The DAVF was successfully treated by coil embolization and the patient made a full recovery. The possibility of a DAVF as a late complication of an upper cervical spine fracture should be considered when a patient presents with a spinal epidural hematoma.

Purpose: Biopsy-related vascular injuries in renal transplants are rare, but they can lead to dramatic clinical symptoms prompting immediate treatment. Transcatheter embolization is a known minimally invasive technique to treat some form of arterial bleeding. This study evaluated the efficacy of this technique in iatrogenic biopsy-related vascular lesions in renal allografts., Material and Methods: Between 1993 and 2001, 13 patients were treated by percutaneous transcatheter intervention. Indications for embolization were hypovolemic shock due to perinephric hematoma (n = 5), persistent macroscopic hematuria (n = 7) and an asymptomatic large intrarenal pseudoaneurysm in 1 patient. Selective angiography revealed an arteriovenous fistula (n = 7), a pseudoaneurysm (n = 6), and perinephric contrast extravasation (n = 4)., Results: In all patients, successful embolization of the feeding artery could be performed; in 11 patients it was performed in one session, in 2 patients an additional session was needed. In 1 patient thrombosis of a segmental artery occurred immediately after embolization, but was successfully treated by short-term in situ thrombolysis. Clinical symptoms disappeared in all patients. Serum creatinine levels (determined 30 and 60 days after embolization, compared to the level before embolization) decreased significantly in 10 patients; a progressive deterioration of the renal function was observed in 3 patients., Conclusions: Transcatheter embolization is a safe and effective endovascular technique to treat biopsy-related vascular injuries in renal transplants. In the vast majority of cases an immediate clinical success and significant benefit in renal function can be obtained and the longevity of the allograft after successful embolization mainly depends on the natural (medical) outcome.

Objective: In patients in very poor neurological condition (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Grade V) with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, early surgery to prevent rebleeding and to allow appropriate treatment of complications is often difficult. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether early endovascular treatment followed by aggressive proactive treatment of complications (prophylactic hypervolemic hemodilution, hypertensive treatment in the event of systemic hypotension, and appropriate treatment of intracranial hypertension) is an acceptable management strategy for these patients., Methods: We prospectively studied 11 consecutive patients who presented with acutely ruptured aneurysms and were in very poor neurological condition after resuscitation (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Grade V) but did not have a significant intracerebral hemorrhage. These patients received endovascular treatment with Guglielmi detachable coils (Boston Scientific/Target, Fremont, CA). Follow-up consisted of a clinical evaluation based on the Glasgow Outcome Scale. A control angiogram was obtained after 6 months in patients with favorable outcomes to evaluate the occlusion of the aneurysm., Results: There were no deaths or complications directly related to the procedure. Two patients died as a consequence of increased intracranial pressure. The mean follow-up of the surviving patients was 12 months. Two patients had early rebleeding after the coiling and required further treatment. Four patients had good outcomes, two patients were moderately disabled, and three patients were severely disabled., Conclusion: This study demonstrates that early endovascular treatment of acutely ruptured cerebral aneurysms in patients evaluated as World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Grade V allows for aggressive treatment of intracranial hypertension and vasospasm. More than half of the patients had favorable outcomes. Therefore, early endovascular treatment seems to be a valuable alternative to early surgery in patients who present with a very poor clinical grade after subarachnoid hemorrhage. The results of this study are promising but must be interpreted with caution, because a small number of patients were studied.

We report a case of a postoperative retroperitoneal haemorrhage due to an iatrogenic perioperative injury of an ureteric artery. Transcatheter embolization using microparticles stopped the bleeding and the patient stabilized immediately. Ureteric artery injury is a very rare condition but can be managed successfully by percutaneous interventional techniques.

Purpose: Ovarian vein embolization has been used recently to treat pelvic congestion syndrome. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of ovarian vein embolization in the treatment of symptomatic pelvic varices., Materials and Methods: We performed ovarian vein embolization in 41 patients (mean age, 37.8 years; range, 30-58 years): 32 patients underwent unilateral embolization and nine patients underwent bilateral embolization. All had lower abdominal pain and pelvic varicosities were found on retrograde ovarian vein venography. Embolization was performed with a mixture of enbucrilate and lipiodized oil in all but one patient, in whom enbucrilate and minicoils were used. Initial technical success rate and clinical follow-up (1-61 months; mean, 19.9 months), conducted with use of mailed questionnaires, are reported., Results: Initial technical success rate was 98%. Immediate complications were noted in two patients (4%) in the form of migration of some fragments of glue (used as embolic agent), which was treated conservatively. Clinical follow-up reveals variable symptomatic relief in 9.7% of cases and a total relief of symptoms in 58.5% of cases. Results in patients who had insufficient ovarian veins bilaterally were no better than those in patients for whom only the left ovarian vein was found insufficient., Conclusions: Transcatheter embolization of the ovarian veins is a safe and feasible technique leading to complete relief of symptoms in more than half of cases. No statistically significant difference in clinical outcome could be noted between patients presenting with bilateral insufficient ovarian veins, who underwent bilateral embolization, and patients presenting with an insufficient left ovarian vein, who underwent left unilateral embolization.

A 32-year-old woman presented with a pulsatile, painful mass in her left upper arm, originating several days after removal of an Ilizarov external fixation. The diagnosis of a pseudoaneurysm was made by medical history and by physical and ultrasonographic examination of the mass. Angiography confirmed the presence of the pseudoaneurysm, originating from a branch of the arteria profunda brachii, and definitive treatment was performed by transcatheter embolization. Clinical follow-up showed absence of pulsation and pain in the upper arm and a gradual volume decrease of the mass lesion.

We report a case of retroperitoneal hemorrhage due to multiple, small pseudoaneurysms complicating a chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. Cross-sectional imaging with CT and US could not clearly depict these vascular lesions. Selective arteriography of the superior mesenteric and gastroduodenal arteries clearly showed the small pseudoaneurysms and definitive treatment was performed by transcatheter embolization using coils. Eight months after successful embolization, the patient is asymptomatic without any recurrent bleeding.

After severe craniocerebral trauma a 14-year-old boy developed progressive exophthalmos with venous congestion and chemosis, due to a direct caroticocavernous fistula. Angiography revealed traumatic occlusion of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery and absence of the inferior petrosal sinus. After failure of an approach via the anterior and posterior communicating arteries, the cavernous sinus was successfully catheterised through the occluded internal carotid artery, and embolisation performed with coils.

A patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and diffuse intrahepatic arteriovenous fistulas developed secondary high-output ventricular failure and pulmonary hypertension. A serial staged hepatic arterial coil embolization was performed with long-term resultant haemodynamic and clinical improvement. The methods of this procedure and related complications are discussed.

Uterine arteriovenous malformations are very rare. Transcatheter embolization has become the treatment of choice. It is safe and effective. Moreover the reproductive capacity can be preserved. We report a successful pregnancy after hyperselective transcatheter embolization of an arteriovenous malformation in a 27-year-old woman and present an overview of the literature.

We report the case of an iliopsoas hematoma caused by an iliolumbar branch pseudoaneurysm, following a relatively minor blunt pelvic trauma. Laboratory investigation revealed an as yet undiagnosed von Willebrand's disease. The pseudoaneurysm was successfully embolized superselectively and the hematoma, causing femoral neuropathy, was subsequently drained surgically without major bleeding.

A case of successful wire coil embolization of a bleeding gastroduodenal pseudoaneurysm secondary to necrotizing pancreatitis with pseudocyst formation is reported. The embolization technique using multiple coils is discussed and compared with other techniques previously described.

This paper describes the techniques and indications of the endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms. Although the treatment of choice for cerebral aneurysms is surgical, some lesions are inoperable, especially because of their localisation, their broad implantation with absence of a surgical neck or because of the critical clinical condition of the patient. For these cases, endovascular alternatives are available. For giant aneurysms of the vertebrobasilar system or large aneurysms of the carotid syphon, the endovascular treatment consists in the occlusion of the carrier vessel with endovascular balloons, after previous test occlusion. For small aneurysms, with difficult surgical access, like the basilar tip, the treatment is performed with electrocoils (GDC coils). These soft platinum coils are detached from the delivery wire by an electric current. It is the final purpose to entirely pack the aneurysm with coils. Finally, endovascular therapy can be of use in the treatment of vasospasms due to subarachnoid hemorrhage. In case of failure of medical therapy, balloon angioplasty or intra-arterial infusion of papaverine can elevate the vasospasm and prevent ischemic complications.

Transcatheter embolization was performed in 8 young patients (mean age 24.5 years) with intracerebral arteriovenous malformations. In total 12 arteries were embolized in 10 sessions. Clinical complaints of the patients included epilepsy in 4, sudden coma in 3 and severe sudden neurological deficit in 1. Intracerebral hemorrhage was documented in 4 patients and subarachnoid hemorrhage in 1. In all patients, prior to embolization a superselective Wada-test was performed under wake-up anesthesia. Embolization was performed with a mixture of acrylic glue and lipiodol. In one patient a detachable balloon was added. In 6 patients embolization of all the feeding arteries was possible, with total obliteration of the arteriovenous malformations in 4 and subtotal embolization (> 90%) in 2. In 2 patients reduction of the size of the arteriovenous malformation by one third was followed by total surgical removal of the lesion. In 1 patient reflux of the embolization material in the anterior choroidal artery caused severe neurological deficit with good clinical recuperation.

A case of hypervascularization of the penis with glans ischemia after venous leakage procedure followed by revascularization of the penis is reported. The venous bypass between the inferior epigastric artery and the dorsal penile artery was misplaced on the deep dorsal vein leading to venous hypertension of the glans. Transcatheter embolization of the venous bypass cured this complication.

Transcatheter arterial embolization was attempted in ten patients with gynaecological bleeding. It concerned eight malignant lesions (five cases of spinocellular carcinoma of the uterine cervix, one case of endometrium carcinoma, one case of choriocarcinoma and one case of vulvovaginal metastasis of hypernephroma), and two benign lesions (one uterine arteriovenous malformation and one bleeding after curettage). Bleeding could be stopped in six patients and considerably reduced in two. In two patients selective catheterization of the uterine artery was impossible due to atherosclerotic tortuosity in one and tumoral invasion in the other.

Renal bleeding of iatrogenic origin was diagnosed in three patients with massive hematuria. Although percutaneous nephrostomy was the initial injury in all cases, the angiographic presentation was very variable. All cases were successfully managed with arterial embolization, using different techniques. Symptoms regressed totally in all patients avoiding surgical intervention.

Bleeding of iatrogenic origin was treated by embolization in four patients. It concerned a post-operative bleeding in the thigh after total hip replacement, a post-operative pelvic bleeding after biopsy of the iliac bone, a retroperitoneal hemorrhage after percutaneous sympathicus blockage and an intrarenal bleeding after percutaneous nephrostomy. Embolization proved to be a very efficient method in the control of these iatrogenic bleedings, with minimal risk and stress for the patient. It could prevent reintervention and prolongation of the hospitalisation.

The left spermatic vein was found to drain directly into a left-sided vena cava in a patient with left varicocele. The implications for embolization of this anomaly are obvious.

A 25-year-old woman with a congenital uterine arteriovenous malformation had a long history of repeated excessive vaginal bleeding. She was successfully treated with transarterial embolization. She had normal menstrual periods for 6 months and subsequently conceived. She was delivered of a normally grown baby at 35 weeks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the third pregnancy described after successful embolization of an arteriovenous malformation.

A case of congenital arteriovenous fistula of the pelvis is described. Arteriovenous malformations of the pelvis are rare and can give rise to problems in diagnosis and treatment. A long history of vague complaints precedes determination of the correct diagnosis. Because recurrence is not uncommon after treatment, intraarterial embolization in combination with surgery is mandatory.

A case of congenital arteriovenous malformation of the uterus in a 25-year-old woman with a long-standing history of recurrent menometrorrhagia is reported. Radiological diagnosis was based on hysterographic, computed tomographic, and angiographic findings. Treatment was performed with percutaneous transcatheter embolization.

Balloon embolization was attempted in 7 patients with posttraumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas. The procedure was successful in 4 patients and failed in 3 other. Two of these fistulas showed spontaneous regression after failed embolization. In one patient, premature detachment of the balloon led to cerebral infarction, but with total clinical recovery. One patient showed temporary palsy of the VIth cranial nerve after embolization.

Computed tomography findings in a case of embolized renal tumor are reported. Intratumoral gas appearing after embolization can easily be demonstrated by this imaging method.

Pre-operative embolization of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma was performed in 15 patients. The lesion was supplied by the internal carotid arteries (8 cases), by the internal maxillary artery (15 cases), the accessory meningeal artery (10 cases) and the ascending pharyngeal artery (10 cases). Superselective embolization of the external carotid artery feeders was performed with Ivalon particles, without neurological complications. Good control of per-operative blood loss was noted in 13 out of 15 cases, 2 patients presenting severe per-operative venous bleeding. Recurrence was noted in only one patient, which could be controlled by reembolization.