Clinical Outcomes of Transcatheter Arterial Embolization Using N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) in Cirrhotic Patients

Purpose To evaluate the clinical outcomes of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) for treatment of bleeding in cirrhotic patients. Materials and methods A total of 35 cirrhotic patients (26 men, 9 women; mean age, 48.4 ± 11.1) who underwent TAE with NBCA for bleeding from January 2011 to December 2020 were retrospectively analysed. Only cirrhotic patients with active arterial bleeding confirmed on computed tomography (CT) were included. Fifteen patients were hemodynamically unstable before embolization procedure, and coagulopathy was observed in 32 patients. The mean MELD score and Child Pugh score were 24 ± 9.9 and 9.9 ± 2.2, respectively. The mean haemoglobin level and mean number of RBC units transfused before embolization were 7.4 ± 1.4 g/dL and 10.2 ± 4, respectively. The technical, clinical success rate and 30-day mortality rate were evaluated. Results Technical success and clinical success rates were achieved in 100% and 82.8% of patients, respectively. Overall 30-day mortality rate was 48%. No major complications related to the embolization procedure was seen. Only the greater number of RBC units transfused before the embolization procedure (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.17–2.80, P = 0.007) was significantly associated with clinical failure. Greater number of RBC units transfused (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.00–2.34, P = 0.004) and higher Child Pugh score (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.26–4.71, P = 0.008) were significantly associated with higher 30-day mortality rate. Conclusion Transcatheter arterial embolization using NBCA can be used as the effective treatment option for bleeding in cirrhotic patients which has a high technical and clinical success despite the grave prognosis associated with cirrhosis.