Embolizations
Embolization is not a common household word. But in the hospital setting, its known to every physician or surgeon who has ever had to deal with a bleeding patient. Before interventional radiology, open surgical procedures were required to stop life threatening bleeding. This led to long recovery periods, and significant morbidity and mortality..
Interventional radiology has changed all that…
Several arteries in the body come very close to the surface of the skin, in particular the common femoral artery in the groin. This artery is very easy to get access into with a small diameter catheter. Once inside, the catheter can be maneuvered through the network of arteries and delivered to almost any target in the body. After reaching the target, metallic coils, micro-particles, vascular glue glue and even alcohol can be used to close off the bleeding arteries.
X-ray pictures, injected dye, and the specialized knowledge of the human body allow interventional radiologists to deliver catheters to remote locations where bleeding occurs, and stop the bleeding from the source. And it doesn't require a single incision!
Traumatic injury and post-operative bleeding are two common applications, but there are many other reasons for embolization:
- Arteriovenous malformation (vascular tumors)
- Hypervascular Hereditary Telangiectasia (HHT)
- Targeted chemotherapy to liver cancers
- Pre-operative embolization to reduce bleeding risk and use of transfusions during surgery
- Uterine artery embolization for fibroids
- Gastrointestinal bleeding (duodenal ulcers and diverticular bleeding)
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