Treatment Strategy of Transcatheter Arterial Embolization after Pelvic CT Angiography in Traumatic Pelvic Hemorrhage: A Single Regional Emergency Center's Experience

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment strategy of transcatheter arterial embolization after pelvic CT angiography (CTA) in cases of traumatic pelvic hemorrhage. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of pelvic hemorrhage patients who underwent transcatheter arterial embolization after pelvic CTA at our regional emergency center during a 31-month period. We reviewed the medical records and imagings of all these patients. RESULTS: Transcatheter arterial embolization was performed in 17 patients (MF=710, mean age=53.9) who underwent pelvic CTA for the evaluation of traumatic pelvic hemorrhage. Arterial bleeding was demonstrated on pelvic CTA in all patients, and the combined injury was also noted in 13 patients. The admission-to-CTA time was 84.53+/-66.92 minutes, and the CTA-to-embolization time was 147.65+/-99.97 minutes. Extravasation of contrast media or pseudoaneurysm was demonstrated on conventional angiography in all patients. Unilateral iliac artery embolization was performed in 8 patients, and bilateral iliac artery embolization was performed in 9 patients. Additional embolizations other than in the iliac arteries were performed in 7 patients. Initial hemostasis was achieved in 16 patients. One patient died of ongoing pelvic bleeding. Rebleeding occurred in only one patient and hemostasis was achieved with the second embolization. Another patient died of intracranial and facial bleeding in spite of pelvic hemostasis. The overall mortality was 11.8%, and there was no significant adverse effects in the other patients. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter arterial embolization after pelvic CTA is an effective treatment strategy in the management of traumatic pelvic hemorrhage patients.