Objectives:
The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of Gelfoam as an effective embolizing agent in patients with hemoptysis presenting to a tertiary care center in developing nations.
Material and Methods:
A retrospective analysis of data from 30 patients treated by Interventional radiologist at St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore, India, was performed. The study included 22 males (73.3%) and 8 (26.65%) female patients. Gelfoam was used as the sole embolizing agent and arteries with features of abnormal blush and hypertrophy were targeted. Analysis of the etiology, immediate, and short-term outcome and complications, when present, was performed. The median follow-up period was 45 days following an embolization procedure at this center.
Results:
A high short-term efficacy was noted following embolization procedures with Gelfoam as the sole agent. Twenty-eight out of 30 procedures were deemed successful, and post-tubercular changes were noted to be the cause for hemoptysis in 23 patients. The high short-term efficacy (93.3%), evidenced by a complete stoppage of hemoptysis, along with a relatively low rate of complications (spinal cord ischemia in only 2.3%), strengthens the position of Gelfoam as the sole embolizing agent in a resource-limited setting.
Conclusion:
In an economically constrained setting, Gelfoam proves to be a useful first choice single embolization agent, while polyvinyl alcohol particles coupled with microcatheter systems remain within reach of only those who can afford them.
Preoperative evaluation of skeletal muscle mass in the risk assessment for the short‑term outcome of elderly colorectal cancer patients undergoing colectomy
