Vascular embolization
Vascular embolization is an intravascular operation, which aims at complete or partial blocking of the lumen of a vessel from the inside. It is performed to treat both vascular and non-vascular diseases.
When is arterial embolization performed?
The most frequent are:
- embolization of sack-shaped aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations of the cerebral blood vessels (which are the most common cause of hemorrhagic stroke);
- arterial embolization for bleeding of various etiologies (e.g., in patients with peptic ulcer disease of the stomach and duodenum, neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases of the kidneys accompanied by hematuria, portal hypertension with varicose veins of the esophagus and stomach, pseudocysts of the pancreas with bleeding, injuries);
- chemoembolization – an introduction of particles saturated with a chemotherapeutic drug into the vessels of a tumor (it is a palliative therapy for inoperable tumors or preoperative therapy of operable tumors);
- embolization of the prostate arteries in benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate adenomas);
- embolization of the rectal arteries in hemorrhoids;
- embolization of the thyroid arteries in nodular goiter.
Indications for embolization are constantly expanding, so new types of this class of interventions appear.
How is embolization performed?
This is a minimally invasive intervention that does not require general anesthesia and is performed in the X-ray operating room. Under local anesthesia, the doctor inserts a special thin catheter (plastic tube) into the vascular bed through a small puncture in the skin and passes it to the “target vessel” under X-ray control. After that, special materials are introduced through it, which partially or completely cover the lumen. After completing the intervention, a pressure bandage is applied to the puncture site for 8-12 hours.
Лікарі
Часті питання
- You can wear whatever you want when going to the hospital. During the procedure, you
- will be dressed in a hospital gown.
- Leave your valuables at home.
- One day before the arranged date, your doctor or nurse will tell you what you can and сan eat or drink before the procedure.
- Ask your doctor what medications you should take on the day of the procedure.
- Tell your doctor and/or nurses if you are allergic to anything.
- injected during the procedure.
- The procedure is performed in the X-ray operating room. This room is cool and dimly lit.
- You will lie on a special table above which you will see a large camera and several
- monitors.
- When the contrast medium is injected, you may feel heat or notice redness for a few
- seconds. This is normal – these sensations will quickly disappear.
- Catheters and an introducer are removed from the blood vessel. The doctor will press
- the puncture site with a finger and apply a compression bandage.
- The nurse will check your bandage regularly to prevent bleeding.
- After a puncture in the leg, you need to lie in bed for several hours.
- The puncture site may be sensitive.
- You will need to drink plenty of fluid to clear the contrast material from your body.
