Ethanol embolotherapy of pelvic arteriovenous malformations: an initial experience

• Published in: Korean journal of radiology Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 148 - 154
• Main Authors: Bae, Sooho, Do, Young Soo, Shin, Sung Wook, Park, Kwang Bo, Kim, Dong-Ik, Kim, Young Wook, Cho, Sung Ki, Choo, Sung Wook, Choo, In Wook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Society of Radiology 01.03.2008; The Korean Radiological Society; 대한영상의학회
• Subjects: Abortion; Adult; Arteriovenous Malformations - therapy; Catheters; Congenital diseases; Embolization; Embolization, Therapeutic - adverse effects; Embolization, Therapeutic - methods; Enbucrilate - administration & dosage; Ethanol; Ethanol - administration & dosage; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Intubation; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medical imaging; Middle Aged; Original; Ovaries; Patients; Pelvis; Pelvis - blood supply; Pulmonary arteries; Retrospective Studies; Scintigraphy; Solvents - administration & dosage; Tissue Adhesives - administration & dosage; Uterus; Uterus - blood supply; Vagina; Veins & arteries; 방사선과학
• ISSN: 1229-6929; 2005-8330
• DOI: 10.3348/kjr.2008.9.2.148

We retrospectively assessed the results of performing ethanol embolization for pelvis arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). During the past 10 years, eight patients (8 females, age range: 27-52 years) with AVMs in the pelvic wall (n = 3) and uterus (n = 5) underwent staged ethanol embolizations (range: 1-5, mean: 2.5) under general anesthesia. Ethanol embolization was performed by the use of the transcatheter and/or direct puncture techniques. Clinical follow-up was performed for all of the patients, and imaging follow-up was available for seven patients. The therapeutic outcomes were established by evaluating the clinical outcome of the signs and symptoms, as well as the degree of devascularization observed on post-procedural angiography. During the 20 sessions of ethanol embolization, the solitary transarterial approach was used 14 times, the transvenous approach was used three times and direct puncture was used once. For two patients, the transarterial and transvenous or direct puncture approaches were used together in one session. For four patients, ethanol and coils were used as embolic agents, and n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) and ethanol were used in one patient. Seven (88%) of eight patients were cured of their AVMs and one patient (12%) displayed improvement. Major complications were seen in two patients (25%). Ethanol embolization is effective for the treatment of pelvic arteriovenous malformations, though there is a chance of a major complication.