• Transcatheter arterial embolization in abdominal blunt trauma with active mesenteric bleeding: case series and review of literature

    Emerg Radiol . 2021 Feb;28(1):55-63. doi: 10.1007/s10140-020-01831-z. Epub 2020 Jul 28.

    Riccardo Bertelli, Paola Fugazzola, Claudia Zaghi, Andrea Taioli, Emanuela Giampalma, Vanni Agnoletti, Luca Ansaloni

    Abstract

    Purpose: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in treating traumatic mesenteric injuries with active bleeding, to report the outcome in a case series, and to compare the results with the existing data.

    Methods: All consecutive patients with active mesenteric bleeding due to blunt abdominal trauma referred to a level-one Trauma Center and treated by TAE were included; the related demographic and medical data were retrospectively reported. A literature review was conducted; all reported cases were collected and analysed together with our case series. A univariate analysis of risk factors for TAE failure, bowel necrosis, complication and length of stay was performed.

    Results: Four consecutive patients were included. Technical success was 100%. One patient developed colon ischemia after the procedure and underwent surgical treatment; another presented transient mild renal failure and late respiratory failure. No 30-day mortality was reported. These results are consistent with those reported in literature. The analysis of our cases together with case collected from literature resulted in a case series of 25 patients. Univariate analysis showed colon as site of bleeding as a significant risk factor for bowel necrosis and older age as a significant risk factor for longer length of stay. TAE failure was not significantly associated neither with a higher complication rate nor with a higher length of stay.

    Conclusion: TAE is a safe and effective procedure to control mesenteric bleeding, thus should be considered, in selected cases and in appropriate setting, as an alternative to emergency surgery.

    Read Full Article Here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-020-01831-z