Vascular plugs are associated with reduced fluoroscopy times compared to endovascular coils in proximal splenic artery embolization in trauma

Purpose: Proximal splenic artery embolization plays an important role in the treatment of hemodynamically stable blunt splenic trauma patients with medium- to high-grade injuries. Proximal splenic artery embolization is most often performed utilizing endovascular coils or vascular plugs. The objective of this study was to compare technical and clinical outcomes of proximal splenic artery embolization using either endovascular coils or vascular plugs in patients with traumatic splenic injuries. Materials and methods: A single-institution retrospective review of all proximal splenic artery embolizations for trauma over a 5-year period was performed. Patients who underwent embolization using both endovascular coils and vascular plugs were excluded. Baseline characteristics, including patient age, sex, and grade of splenic injury, were recorded. Complication rates, rates of splenic salvage, and total fluoroscopy time were recorded and compared. Results: A total of 26 patients were included in the analysis (17 males, 9 females, median age: 50 years). Of these, 15 patients were treated with vascular plugs (57.7%), while 11 patients (42.3%) were treated with endovascular coils. Mean grade of injury was 3.5 and 4.1 in the vascular plug and endovascular coils groups, respectively. There were no differences between the groups regarding these baseline characteristics. Splenic salvage was 100% in both groups. No major complications were identified in either group. Mean fluoroscopy time was significantly lower in the vascular plug group (14.5 versus 34.0 min; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Proximal splenic artery embolization for splenic trauma can be satisfactorily achieved with either vascular plugs or endovascular coils with no differences in splenic salvage or complication rates in this retrospective study. However, embolization utilizing vascular plugs had significantly reduced fluoroscopy times.

Successful Sac Embolization to Eliminate a Type 2 Endoleak After Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair by Penetration of a Vascular Plug Implanted in a Left Subclavian Artery

Purpose: To describe a technique of vascular plug penetration by a guidewire with a heavy tip load for additional embolization of a type 2 endoleak after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). Technique: The technique of vascular plug penetration is effective for additional embolization of a type 2 endoleak, when large arteries such as left subclavian artery (LSA) or hypogastric artery remain patent even after the embolization of the vessel has been performed using a vascular plug and are responsible for the endoleak. A tapered guidewire with a heavy tip load enables the penetration of the disk of the plug, followed by introduction of a microcatheter into the endoleak nidus. In the presented case, the technique successfully eliminated a type 2 endoleak in a thoracic aortic aneurysm for which a patent LSA despite the embolization by a vascular plug was responsible. Conclusion: The technique of vascular plug penetration allows an access to an endoleak cavity via a vascular plug placed in an aortic side branch for additional embolization of a type 2 endoleak after EVAR.

Portal Vein Embolization Using N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate-Glue: What Impact Does a Central Vascular Plug Have?

Purpose To examine if the addition of a central vascular plug (CVP) to portal vein embolization (PVE) with N-butyl cyanoacrylate-glue (NBCA) increases future liver remnant (FLR) growth. Material and Methods This is a single-center retrospective study of 115 consecutive patients with colorectal liver metastases undergoing PVE in 2013–2019. All patients were embolized with NBCA as the main embolic agent. In 2017–2019 NBCA was combined with a CVP in the central part of the right portal vein. Growth of the FLR and standardized FLR (sFLR) including degree of hypertrophy (DH) and kinetic growth rate (KGR) were analyzed, as well as procedure data such as use of cone-beam CT (CBCT), dose area product (DAP), fluoroscopy time and contrast dose. Results A total of 40 patients (35%) underwent PVE with a combination of CVP and NBCA. The DH was higher in these patients after 4 weeks, mean 13.6% (SD 7.8) vs. 10.5% (SD 6.4; p = 0.022), verified in multivariate analysis (coefficient 4.1, p = 0.015). A CVP did not significantly increase the resection rate (90% vs 82%, p = 0.4). Cone beam CT was used in 65 patients (57%). Use of CBCT did not affect FLR growth, and fluoroscopy time and contrast doses were not different in patients having a CBCT or not. Slightly lower DAP (median 3375 vs. 4499 cGy*cm2; p = 0.09) was seen in procedures where CBCT was used. Conclusion A CVP in addition to NBCA embolization was associated with increased growth of the FLR compared to NBCA alone.

581 Renal Arteriovenous Fistula Percutaneous Embolization Using the Amplatzer Vascular Plug II

Introduction Renal arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is not considered a common condition; however, it can occasionally complicate with renal impairment and heart failure secondary to high cardiac output. Recently, percutaneous embolization has overcome traditional surgery as the first line of its management, because of better success rates as well as less morbidity and mortality. Case report A 68-year-old male who presented with a renal AVF post left partial nephrectomy associated with a large pseudoaneurysm. This was found on a computed tomography angiography (CTA) scan, a routine follows up for his endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. Due to the patient’s co-morbidities and to avoid the potentially fatal pseudoaneurysm rupture, a minimal invasive approach was agreed in the multidisciplinary meeting. He was treated by percutaneous transcatheter embolization using the Amplatzer Vascular Plug II (AVP-II) through a right femoral arterial access. The patient recovery was uneventful, following an overnight stay he was discharged home. CTA done four and ten months later showed the AVP-II device inside the left renal artery branch feeder with no artifacts seen. There was absence of recanalization of the AVF. In the literature, adopting the transarterial route for the renal AVF treatment with AVP-II device as a single embolotherapy device has not been reported before. Conclusions Our report display the feasibleness of AVP-II in renal AVF treatment by arterial feeder embolization, specifically in fistulas with high flow and short communication as our case in which it showed offered multiple advantages over coils and is more cost effective.