Transcatheter Arterial Embolization (TAE) of Cancer-Related Bleeding

Transarterial embolization for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding: a retrospective bicentric study

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) represents an effective treatment option for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB). This retrospective, bicentric study evaluated the safety and efficacy of TAE in 77 patients with LGIB. The mean patient age was 68.39 ± 17.54 years, and the mean pre-procedural hemoglobin was 7.87 ± 1.89 g/dL. The most common cause of LGIB was angiodysplasia (36.2%). Pre-procedural computed tomography angiography (CTA) detected active bleeding in 83% of cases. Technical success was achieved in 98.7% of patients, and 30-day clinical success was achieved in 87%. The rebleeding rate was 13%, and the ischemic complication rate was 11.7%. There were no significant associations between clinical success and sex, age, coagulopathy, first-line management, active bleeding signs, culprit vessel, superior mesenteric artery, or time between CTA and digital subtraction angiography. TAE is a safe and effective procedure for LGIB, with high technical and acceptable clinical success rates. It should be considered a standard procedure in select patients, especially when endoscopic treatment is contraindicated or not feasible.

Prostate artery embolization as an effective treatment for clinically significant prostate cancer‑related hemorrhage: A case report

A 79-year old Caucasian male with metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer and bilateral nephrostomy was admitted to the emergency department due to 4-day bloody urethral discharge, weakness and dizziness. The patient was treated with the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone-antagonist and abiraterone acetate plus prednisone, dabigatran 150 mg bid (for atrial fibrillation and coronary heart disease) and 5-aminosalicylic acid for the management of mild ulcerative colitis. Imaging revealed bladder overdistention and blood analysis low levels of hematocrit (HCT) and hemoglobin (HGB) (HCT, 22%; HGB, 7.1 gr/dl). A 22F, 3-way urethral catheter was placed, and blood clots were removed with a syringe. Continuous normal saline irrigation was initiated, and the dabigatran was withdrawn; however, no evidence of control of blood loss was shown. Computed tomography and urography revealed a large prostate lesion invading the bladder neck, a pelvic lymph-node block and lack of blood extravasation. Diagnostic urethrocystoscopy revealed diffuse hematuria from the prostate lesion and bladder neck. Bipolar coagulation was performed in the absence of any significant improvement. Upon withdrawal of intravesical irrigation, the oral consumption of a large water volume (a useful measure to control hematuria and avoid clot formation) could not be applied to the patient due to urine storage and normal voiding being not feasible. Subsequently, the patient was informed on the option of superselective arterial embolization (SAE). Following signing of the relevant consent form, the patient underwent bilateral SAE of prostatic and inferior cystic arteries, while he was in heparin delivery. Dabigatran was re-administered on the 5th postprocedural day and the catheter was removed following 5 days. Following a 4-month follow-up, the patient's condition was stable with no traceable hematuria. In conclusion, the minimal invasiveness of SAE is an attractive option, notably in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities. It appears to be a safe alternative with an acceptable rate of minor complications. The encouraging results and the survival outcomes warrant further evaluation with comparative prospective multicenter studies.

An experimental study on the diagnostic advantage of dual-energy computed tomography over single-energy scan to evaluate the treatment effect following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

OBJECTIVES

We assessed the diagnostic advantage of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) over single-energy computed tomography (SECT) to evaluate lipiodol accumulation in target lesions following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

METHODS

TACE was performed in 10 rabbits in whom the VX2 tumor was implanted in their left liver lobes. The miriplatin-lipiodol mixture was injected into the common hepatic artery. All rabbits were sacrificed 2 days after TACE, and the liver was harvested. CT was performed using both single-energy and dual-energy scan modes. The specimen was stained with Oil Red O to evaluate lipiodol accumulation; this was considered the reference standard. Mutual information (MI) was used to evaluate the significance of radiological-pathological correlation. Estimated iodine content values on iodine material density images were compared with actual values obtained using mass spectroscopy.

RESULTS

Mean MI values were 0.69, 0.32, 0.83, 0.72, 0.65, and 0.58 for single-energy scan; iodine density images; and virtual monoenergetic images for energy levels of 40, 60, 80, and 100 keV, respectively. The MI value of the monochromatic image (40 keV) was the highest among all sequences. However, this was not significant compared with the single-energy scan (p = 0.81). A significant correlation was observed between the estimated and actual values of iodine content (Pearson's product moment coefficient = 0.70, p = 0.023).

CONCLUSION

More accurate and quantitative lipiodol evaluation in targeted tumors after TACE can be achieved by applying DECT rather than SECT.

Angiographic Aspects of Transarterial Radioembolization: A Comparison of Technical Options to Avoid Extrahepatic Microsphere Depositions

The influence of the interventional treatment approach for transarterial radioembolization (TARE) on the incidence of extrahepatic microsphere depositions and to angiographic complications was evaluated. In total, 398 TARE cycles were analyzed. Interventional treatment approaches were classified as single treatment position (TP) with interventional occlusion (IO), multiple TPs without IO, and multiple TPs with IO. Correlations with extrahepatic microsphere depositions, angiographic complications, and periprocedural clinical events were performed. Alternative treatment strategies were evaluated. Applications from multiple TPs could have ensured the safe application of microspheres in 48.2% of cases that were originally performed from a single TP after IO. Extrahepatic microsphere accumulations were detected after 5.2%, 5.3%, and 1.5% of TARE procedures from a single TP without IO, a single TP with IO, and multiple TPs without IO, respectively. Applications from multiple TPs did not increase angiographic complications. During the 30-day follow-up, nausea/vomiting and upper abdominal discomfort were observed more frequently in the group with IO than in the group without IO (7.9%/4.6% and 9.2%/5.9%, respectively). In many TARE procedures, the same target liver can be treated from multiple TPs instead of a single TP, reducing the need for the interventional occlusion of aberrant arteries and potential extrahepatic microsphere depositions.

An 84-Year-Old Man with a History of Myeloma and Biphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Treated with Preoperative Vascular Embolization Before Partial Maxillectomy

BACKGROUND Bisphosphonates and anti-receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B antibodies are used to treat bone diseases associated with increased osteoclast activity, including myeloma. However, they can cause osteonecrosis of the jaw, known as medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. This report presents a case of a patient with a history of myeloma who required posterior maxilla resection for bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, in which preoperative embolization prevented unexpected bleeding related to vascular injury and allowed for a safe procedure with minimal bleeding. CASE REPORT An 84-year-old man presented to our department with a 3-year history of purulent drainage and bone exposure in the right maxilla. Based on the clinical findings at the initial visit, the clinical diagnosis was bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, and the patient underwent a partial right maxillary osteotomy. This surgery was associated with a risk of unexpected bleeding from a branch of the maxillary artery during the posterior maxilla resection. A catheter-based embolization of the maxillary artery was performed the day before performing a partial maxillectomy to avoid unexpected bleeding risk. Thus, no abnormal bleeding occurred during partial maxillectomy, and no postoperative complications occurred for 3 years. CONCLUSIONS In the surgical treatment of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, preoperative vascular embolization of the peripheral maxillary artery beyond the middle meningeal artery bifurcation is a valuable technique for safe maxillectomy involving the posterior maxilla.

Construction of an Injectable Composite Double-Network Hydrogel as a Liquid Embolic Agent

Conventional embolists disreputably tend to recanalization arising from the low filling ratio due to their rigidity or instability. As a result, intelligent hydrogels with a tunable modulus may meaningfully improve the therapeutic efficacy. Herein, an injectable composite double-network (CDN) hydrogel with high shear responsibility was prepared as a liquid embolic agent by cross-linking poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) via dynamic covalent bonding of borate ester and benzoic-imine. A two-dimensional nanosheet, i.e., layered double hydroxide (LDH), was incorporated into the network through physical interactions which led to serious reduction of yield stress for the injection of the hydrogel and the capacity for loading therapeutic agents like indocyanine green (ICG) and doxorubicin (DOX) for the functions of photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy. The CDN hydrogel could thus be transported through a thin catheter and further in situ strengthened under physiological conditions, like in blood, by secondarily cross-linking with phosphate ions for longer degradation duration and better mechanical property. These characteristics met the requirements of arterial interventional embolization, which was demonstrated by renal embolism operation on rabbits, and meanwhile favored the inhibition of subcutaneous tumor growth on an animal model. Therefore, this work makes a breakthrough in the case of largely reducing the embolism risks, thus affording a novel generation for interventional embolization.

A Case of a Dentigerous Cyst in the Maxillary Sinus Treated Preoperatively With Vascular Embolization to Avoid Intraoperative Abnormal Bleeding

Bone cysts involving the maxillary sinus are frequently observed, and controlling bleeding from the maxillary or posterior superior alveolar arteries is extremely difficult when the surgical site extends into the palatine fossa or the wing socket behind the maxillary sinus. In this report, we describe a case wherein preoperative endovascular arterial embolization prevented bleeding owing to an unexpected vascular injury that occurred during the removal of a dentigerous cyst from the maxillary sinus. This resulted in a safe operation with less intraoperative bleeding. Although this approach carries the risk of complications, such as paralysis, around the affected area, the likelihood of such complications is low. This approach is useful for performing a safe surgery with minimal blood loss because it avoids the need for emergency hemostasis for major intraoperative hemorrhage.

Endovascular Treatment of Visceral Artery Pseudoaneurysms with Ethylene-Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH) Copolymer-Based Non-Adhesive Liquid Embolic Agents (NALEAs)

Background and Objectives: Treatment of visceral artery pseudoaneurysms (VAPs) is always indicated regardless of their diameters, as their risk of rupture is significantly higher than that of visceral artery aneurysms. The invasiveness of surgery and its associated complications have led to a shift in favor of radiological interventions as the initial treatment of choice. However, there are still some unanswered questions on endovascular treatment of VAPs regarding the optimal endovascular technique and the efficacy and safety outcomes. The purpose of this multicenter study was to retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endovascular treatment of visceral pseudoaneurysms using Ethylene-Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH) Copolymer-Based Non-Adhesive Liquid Embolic Agents (NALEAs). Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent endovascular embolization with EVOH-based NALEAs for visceral artery pseudoaneurysms between January 2018 and June 2023 were retrospectively evaluated. Results: 38 embolizations were performed. Technical success was achieved in all patients. The clinical success rate was high (92.1% overall), with no significant differences between ruptured and unruptured VAPs (p = 0.679). Seven patients (18.4%) experienced procedure-related complications, related to one case of non-target embolization, four splenic abscesses due to end-organ infarction, and two femoral pseudoaneurysms. The rates of procedure-related complications, end-organ infarction, and vascular access-site complications did not significantly differ between ruptured and unruptured VAPs (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Both ruptured and unruptured visceral pseudoaneurysms can be effectively and safely treated with NALEA-based endovascular embolization. We suggest considering the use of NALEAs, particularly in specific clinical cases that highlight their advantages, including patients with coagulopathy, fragile vessels, and embolization targets that are located at a considerable distance from the microcatheter tip and are otherwise difficult to reach.

Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for Bleeding Related to Pelvic Trauma: Comparison of Technical and Clinical Results between Hemodynamically Stable and Unstable Patients

BACKGROUND

Endovascular intervention is now the primary line of therapy for arterial injury brought on by pelvic trauma since it can significantly reduce considerable morbidity associated with surgery and can swiftly access and control bleeding sites. Despite international guidelines and widespread awareness of the role of angioembolization in clinical practice, robust evidence comparing the outcomes of angioembolization in hemodynamically stable and unstable patients is still lacking. This study aims to directly compare the outcomes of angioembolization for the treatment of pelvic traumatic arterial injury in patients with hemodynamic stability vs. hemodynamic instability.

METHODS

In our multicenter retrospective investigation, we analyzed data from consecutive patients who underwent, from January 2020 to May 2023, angioembolization for traumatic pelvic arterial injury.

RESULTS

In total, 116 angioembolizations were performed. Gelatin sponges (56.9%) and coils (25.9%) were the most widely used embolic agents. The technical and clinical success rates were 100% and 91.4%, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of technical success, clinical success, procedure-related complication rate, or 30-day bleeding-related mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Angioembolization is an effective and safe option for the management of traumatic pelvic arterial lesions even in hemodynamically unstable patients, despite technical variations such as greater use of prophylactic angioembolization.

A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study Evaluating the Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Coagulopathy Undergoing Transcatheter Arterial Embolization (TAE) for Acute Non-Neurovascular Bleeding

Background and Objectives: Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is the mainstay of treatment for acute major hemorrhage, even in patients with coagulopathy and spontaneous bleeding. Coagulopathy is associated with worsening bleeding severity and higher mortality and clinical failure rates. Furthermore, some unanswered questions remain, such as the definition of coagulopathy, the indication for TAE or conservative treatment, and the choice of embolic agent. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of TAE for spontaneous non-neurovascular acute bleeding in patients with coagulopathy. Materials and Methods: This study is a multicenter analysis of retrospectively collected data of consecutive patients with coagulopathy who had undergone, from January 2018 to May 2023, transcatheter arterial embolization for the management of spontaneous hemorrhages. Results: During the study interval (January 2018-May 2023), 120 patients with coagulopathy underwent TAE for spontaneous non-neurovascular acute bleeding. The abdominal wall was the most common bleeding site (72.5%). The most commonly used embolic agent was polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles or microspheres (25.0%), whereas coils and gelatin sponge together accounted for 32.5% of the embolic agents used. Technical success was achieved in all cases, with a 92.5% clinical success rate related to 9 cases of rebleeding. Complications were recorded in 12 (10%) patients. Clinical success was significantly better in the group of patients who underwent correction of the coagulopathy within 24 h of TAE. Conclusions: Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is effective and safe for the management of acute non-neurovascular bleeding in patients with coagulopathy. Correction of coagulopathy should not delay TAE and vice versa, as better clinical outcomes were noted in the subgroup of patients undergoing correction of coagulopathy within 24 h of TAE.