ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are increasingly treated by radiologists using various embolic materials. Because of pain and significant hemodynamic changes that may be associated with this treatment, anesthesiologists are frequently asked to provide anesthesia and supportive care. We evaluated the hemodynamic changes that occurred after absolute alcohol embolization. METHODS: Fourteen patients between 15 and 50 years of age who had arteriovenous malformation were included in this study. 2 to 4 ml of alcohol was injected each time. The hemodynamic parameters were measured before alcohol injection (control) and after 1st to 10th alcohol injection. RESULTS: Blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output were significantly increased after 1st to 10th alcohol injection compared with control value. Central venous pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and systemic vascular resistance were not significantly changed. But pulmonary vascular resistance was significantly increased after 9th and 10th alcohol injection. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure was significantly increased after 4th, 8th, 9th and 10th alcohol injection. CONCLUSIONS: Bolus injection of absolute ethyl alcohol induces short-term significant increases in blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac output probably by severe pain and sympathetic activation that appear to be centrally mediated. The underlying mechanism of cardiovascular event and other systemic effects of intravascular ethanol in this setting need further study.