Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “EMBOLISM”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 991 records · Page 55Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Distal embolization during thrombectomy with use of the hydrolyser (hydrodynamic thrombectomy catheter): in vitro testing.

PURPOSE: To evaluate distal embolization while using the Hydrolyser (hydrodynamic thrombectomy catheter) with special attention to the severity of the stenosis and temporary distal or proximal flow obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Hydrolyser procedure was assessed in plastic tubes (5-8 mm) with a 70% or 90% diameter stenosis with or without temporary distal flow obstruction and a 72-hour-old clot proximal to the stenosis. The weight of the embolized particles was established after passage through filters of 1,000, 500, 100, and 10 microm. To evaluate the influence of the absolute inner diameter of the stenosis 1.0-, 2.1-, and 3.0-mm stenoses were compared in 10-mm tubes. RESULTS: Thrombus removal was greater than 99.9% in all but one of the cases in the 5-8-mm tubes. Embolization with a weight of more than 1 mg was only found in tubes with a relative stenosis of 70% and a stenosis inner diameter of greater than 1.5 mm. There was a positive relationship between inner diameter of the stenosis and the amount of distal embolization. In the presence of a proximal or distal temporary flow obstruction during thrombectomy, no distal embolization greater than 1 mg was found. CONCLUSION: In this in vitro study, the Hydrolyser thrombectomy device demonstrated minimal distal embolization. The amount of distal embolization that did occur was related to the absolute stenosis diameter and could be prevented by a severe distal stenosis and/or a temporary proximal or distal flow obstruction.

Catheterization↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Superselective coil embolization in acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage: personal experience in 10 patients and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficiency of microcoil embolization in upper and lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Superselective microcoil embolization was performed in 10 patients (upper gastrointestinal bleeding, n = 3; lower gastrointestinal bleeding, n = 7) who had acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Embolization was performed as peripherally as possible with use of coaxial catheter systems. Embolization materials included microcoils (2-4 mm) alone (n = 5), microcoils and polyvinyl alcohol particles (355-500 microm) (n = 4), and microcoils and gelatin sponge particles (n = 1). RESULTS: Immediate hemostasis was achieved in eight patients. In two patients with dual blood supply of the bleeding site, significant reduction of hemorrhage resulted. In these two patients, it was technically impossible to place the coaxial catheter distally enough to allow safe embolization of both feeding vessels. No clinical signs of ischemia or infarction were observed after intervention. CONCLUSION: Microcoil embolization is a safe and efficient procedure for controlling acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding if performed in a superselective catheter position. In upper gastrointestinal bleeding, microcoil embolization is an established treatment and can be performed more proximally.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Uterine artery embolization for the treatment of uterine leiomyomata midterm results.

INTRODUCTION: The authors review their midterm experience with uterine artery embolization for the treatment of uterine fibroids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients were referred for permanent polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) foam particle uterine artery embolization during an 18-month period. Detailed clinical follow-up and ultrasound follow-up were obtained. RESULTS: Bleeding was a presenting symptom in 56 patients and pain was a presenting symptom in 47 patients. All patients underwent a technically successful embolization. One of the patients underwent unilateral embolization. Fifty-nine patients underwent bilateral embolization. Of all patients undergoing bilateral embolization, at last follow-up (mean, 16.3 months), 81% had their uterus and had moderate or better improvement in their symptoms. Ninety-two percent of these patients also had reductions in uterine and dominant fibroid volumes. Overall, the mean uterine and dominant fibroid volume reduction were 42.8% and 48.8%, respectively (mean follow-up, 10.2 months). One infectious complication that necessitated hysterectomy occurred. CONCLUSION: Uterine artery embolization for the treatment of uterine fibroids is a minimally invasive technique with low complication rates and very good clinical efficacy.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Increased prevalence of coronary artery calcification in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The authors explored the possibility that patients with suspected pulmonary embolism are at high risk for coronary artery disease. To this purpose, they compared the presence of coronary artery calcification on computed tomography (CT) in patients suspected of pulmonary embolism with age- and gender-matched controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CT scans of 214 patients were reviewed. Of those, 107 consecutive patients (50%) had pulmonary CT angiography for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE group). The remaining 107 age- and gender-matched patients were scanned for reasons other than pulmonary embolism (non-PE group). All CT scans were performed with the same 8-detector-row multislice scanner. Two radiologists reviewed scans of 5-mm slices using a five-grade modified coronary calcium scoring system: 1 = no calcification; 2 = minimal calcification; 3 = mild calcification; 4 = moderate calcification; and 5 = severe calcification. The Marginal Homogeneity test was used to compare the distribution and severity of calcification in the two groups. RESULTS: Of 107 patients in the PE group, seven (6.54%) had pulmonary embolism detected on CT. Coronary artery calcification was detected in 61 patients (57%) in the PE group compared with 42 patients (39%) in the non-PE group. The Marginal Homogeneity test showed that patients with pulmonary embolism symptoms were 2.9 times more likely to have calcification detected compared with those patients who had chest CT for some other reason (P = .0034). However, in patients in whom coronary artery calcification was detected, the distribution of severity of calcification was the same in both groups. CONCLUSION: Assuming coronary artery calcification indicated coronary atherosclerosis, patients undergoing CT for suspected pulmonary embolism may be at high risk for coronary artery disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Endovascular treatment of massive hemoptysis by bronchial artery embolization: short-term and long-term follow-up over a 15-year period].

OBJECTIVE: To present our experience of using arterial embolization for the endovascular treatment of massive hemoptysis along with the results of follow-up over a 15-year period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 401 patients with hemoptysis were referred to the minimally invasive surgery unit of the Hospital Universitario Lozano Blesa de Zaragoza between April 1989 and September 2004 for diagnosis and possible endovascular treatment. Of those patients, 314 met criteria for massive hemoptysis and treatment was attempted using embolization in 287 (91.4%). The most common cause of hemoptysis was bronchiectasis (n=99, 31.5%), followed by lesions due to tuberculosis (n=57, 18.1%) and chronic bronchitis (n=47, 14.9%). RESULTS: Angiography of the bronchial arteries provided evidence to account for the hemoptysis in 287 patients (91.4%). The affected arteries were satisfactorily embolized in 281 (97.9%). Endovascular treatment was clinically successful in 256 of those patients (91.1%). Embolization had to be repeated during the hospital stay in 19 patients (6.7%) and was effective in 52.6% of those cases. The 6 patients in whom embolization was not satisfactory underwent thoracotomy. The mean follow-up in 201 patients (71.5%) was 2372.5 days (range, 61-5475 days). Eighty patients (28.4%) were lost to follow-up for various reasons and at different points. Recurrence of hemoptysis occurred on 1 or more occasions in 45 patients (22.3%) but only 21 (10.4%) required repeat embolization. Minor complications that did not require treatment were observed in 88 patients (28.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Embolization of bronchial arteries is a nonsurgical treatment that is safe and effective in patients with massive hemoptysis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Role of CT and endovascular embolization in managing pseudoaneurysms of the internal maxillary artery.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of computed tomography (CT) and endovascular embolization in managing 10 patients with 11 internal maxillary arterial pseudoaneurysms (IMPAs) with acute oronasal hemorrhage. METHODS: A series of 10 patients with 11 IMPAs presenting with profuse oronasal hemorrhage, all treated with endovascular embolization, were reviewed. There were 9 males and 1 female ranging in age from 10 to 56 years (mean, 38 years). The predisposing factors of IMPA were trauma (n = 6) or head and neck carcinomas (HNCs) after surgical treatment and/ or postradiation therapy (n = 5). Before embolization, all patients had CT of maxillofacial regions to evaluate the extension of trauma or to evaluate the treatment outcome for HNCs. Endovascular embolization was employed-to occlude the IMPAs by delivering the embolic agents of liquid adhesives (n = 9) or microcoils (n = 2) to the IMPAs. RESULTS: On the lesion side, CT revealed maxillofacial fractures in all 5 trauma patients and recurrent or residual tumors in 3 patients with HNCs. In the other 2 patients with HNCs, CT showed no significant finding and contributed little to the catheter angiography in detecting the IMPAs. Endovascular treatment was technically successful in all 11 IMPAs, ceasing hemorrhage immediately after embolization. No recurrence of bleeding was observed. No patient developed neurologic deficit, skin, or mucosal necrosis at the maxillofacial region. Clinical follow-up was 2-36 months (mean, 14 months). Two patients with advanced carcinoma died during follow-up because of disease progression. CONCLUSION: CT is a useful tool for guiding catheter angiography to localize the majority of IMPAs. Endovascular embolization can succeed in managing IMPAs, and should be performed as soon as the IMPA is depicted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Preoperative superselective embolization of skull-base meningiomas: indications and limitations.

We evaluated the clinical significance of preoperative superselective embolization for skull-base meningiomas. The subjects consisted of 20 patients with skull-base meningiomas, and were classified into a preoperative embolized group and a non-embolized group. The volume of blood transfused during the operation, the length of the operative procedure and the neurological outcome were compared between the two groups. The results showed that, in tumors smaller than 6 cm, the blood lost during the operation was significantly less in the embolized group. In tumors larger than 6 cm, there was not difference in blood lost, perhaps because larger meningiomas tend to have tiny blood vessels that are unsuitable for preoperative embolization. There was no difference in the length of the operation between the two groups. The embolized group tended to show a better clinical outcome than the non-embolized group.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Pseudoaneurysm of the uterine artery requiring bilateral uterine artery embolization.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of uterine artery pseudoaneurysm which initially failed unilateral uterine artery embolization that subsequently responded to bilateral embolization. DESIGN: A case report. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): 32-year-old G(2) P(1) female. INTERVENTION(S): Left uterine artery embolization followed by right uterine artery embolization 1 day later. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Vaginal bleeding, hemoglobin. RESULTS: Unilateral uterine artery embolization failed to control vaginal bleeding. Repeat embolization of the contralateral side was successful. CONCLUSIONS: Uterine artery embolization is an effective method of treating delayed postpartum hemorrhage secondary to a pseudoaneurysm of the uterine artery.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Renal artery stent revascularization with embolic protection in patients with ischemic nephropathy.

A prospective analysis of renal artery stent revascularization with distal embolic protection in a high-risk patient population with ischemic nephropathy is presented. A total of 63 patients (median age 70.2 years, range 54-86 years) had significant atherosclerotic stenosis of 83 renal arteries documented on pre-procedural imaging. All patients had baseline chronic renal insufficiency with a documented deterioration in renal function in the 6 months before revascularization. The endovascular technique used in all patients involved primary passage of an embolic filter into the distal main renal artery followed by primary stent deployment with a balloon expandable stainless steel stent. The filter baskets were recaptured and contents submitted for pathological analysis. At 6 months post-intervention, 97% of patients demonstrated stabilization or improvement in renal function. Only 3% of patients had an inexorable decline in renal function, unchanged by the intervention. After a mean follow up of 16.0 months (6-27), 94% of patients demonstrated stabilization or improvement in renal function. One patient suffered an acute post-procedural deterioration in renal function. In total, 60% of the filter baskets contained embolic material. This study confirms the technical feasibility of renal artery stent deployment with adjuvant embolic protection. The excellent results for renal preservation at 6 months post-intervention also suggest that a distal embolic protection device may improve the impact of percutaneous renal revascularization on progressive deterioration in renal function. The postulated mechanism is through the prevention of atheromatous embolization and the embolic yield from the distal filters supports this hypothesis. Patients most likely to receive the greatest benefit are those with mild baseline chronic renal insufficiency and a recent decline in renal function.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

The role of plasma D-dimers concentration in the exclusion of pulmonary embolism.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of four ELISA D-dimer assays in the exclusion of pulmonary embolism. DESIGN: Blinded comparison using pulmonary angiography and/or lung scintigraphy as a reference method. SETTING: A secondary and tertiary referral centre. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients with suspected pulmonary embolism underwent lung scintigraphy, followed by angiography if a non-diagnostic result was obtained. Comorbid conditions resulting in elevated plasma D-dimer levels were defined a priori. Cut-off levels for 100% sensitivity was determined. A decision-analytic model was used to determine effectiveness and costs in the management pulmonary embolism. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The exclusion efficacy of the various assays at a sensitivity of 100% and cost-effectiveness. RESULTS: A total of 179 patients were included (78 inpatients and 101 outpatients; 74 patients had comorbid conditions). Pulmonary embolism could be adequately excluded in between 8% and 18% of all patients, an in between 3% and 7% and 11% and 27% of inpatients and outpatients, respectively, depending on the assay used. D-dimer assays could exclude pulmonary embolism in <5% of patients with comorbid conditions, whereas this increased to 14-32% in outpatients without comorbid conditions. A cost-effectiveness analysis showed a cost reduction of 10% at a specificity of 30%, largely due to a 28% decrease in angiography requirements. Furthermore, for every 2% decrease to sensitivity, one per 1000 evaluated patients would die as a result of inadequately treated pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSION: D-dimer ELISA assays may have a role in the exclusion of pulmonary embolism in symptomatic outpatients, where the application may reduce angiography by 30% and costs by 10%.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Transoesophageal echocardiography shows high risk of gas embolism during laparoscopic hepatic resection under carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum.

BACKGROUND: The ultrasonically activated scalpel (UAS) enables safe and effective laparoscopic tissue dissection, making hepatic resection feasible. This study compared blood loss and risk of gas embolism using the UAS during open hepatic resection and laparoscopic hepatic resection. METHODS: Female pigs were divided into two groups for laparoscopic (n = 7) and open (n = 5) left hepatic lobectomy. The UAS was used for both tissue cutting and coagulation. Laparoscopic liver resection was performed under carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum (intraperitoneal pressure 12 mmHg). During surgery animals were monitored haemodynamically by an arterial line and Swan-Ganz catheter. Two-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (2D-TEE) was used to detect gas emboli with special attention to the right atrium and ventricle. Gas emboli were graded according to size, and correlated with haemodynamic and blood gas data. RESULTS: During open and laparoscopic hepatic resection the UAS resulted in minimal blood loss and effective tissue dissection. No air embolism was seen during open surgery. With laparoscopic hepatic resection 2D-TEE revealed gas embolism in all animals. Gas embolism was accompanied by cardiac arrhythmia in four of seven animals. No direct correlation was observed between embolism episodes and blood gas variables. There were no deaths after episodes of embolization. A significant decrease in arterial partial pressure of oxygen was seen at the end of the laparoscopic procedure in all animals. CONCLUSION: The UAS causes minimal blood loss during both open and laparoscopic hepatic resection. Laparoscopic liver dissection under carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum carries a high risk of gas embolism.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Percutaneous embolization of the failed renal allograft in patients with graft intolerance syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the circumstances, results and complications of percutaneous embolization in failed renal grafts that are not tolerated, to avoid surgical graft removal in selected patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 33 patients (mean age 42 years, SD 13.9) whose renal grafts failed between 1990 and 1999. The patients underwent percutaneous embolization of their renal transplant for graft intolerance syndrome. The allograft was left in situ after failure for a mean (SD) of 9.9 (6.5) months. The subsequent hospital stay, the appearance of complications and the final results were assessed. RESULTS: Post-embolization syndrome (fever for 2-5 days) appeared in 20 (61%) of the patients; the clinical intolerance resolved in 28 (85%). The embolization was unsuccessful in five of the 33 patients (15%) and they required graft removal. The mean (SD) hospital stay was 5 (2) days; there were no major complications from graft embolization. CONCLUSIONS: Graft embolization avoids kidney removal in many patients with failed and rejected transplants, with low rates of morbidity. Surgical graft nephrectomy was useful when graft intolerance syndrome persisted after embolization.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Therapeutic transcatheter arterial embolization in the management of intractable haemorrhage from pelvic urological malignancies: preliminary experience and long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and complications of internal iliac artery embolization as a palliative measure in the control of intractable haemorrhage from advanced pelvic urological malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Six patients (mean age 80 years, range 76-87) with advanced pelvic malignancies (three each with bladder carcinoma and prostate carcinoma) underwent embolization between September 1997 and July 2001, using permanent coils in the anterior division of internal iliac artery bilaterally. RESULTS: All patients had undergone conservative treatment before embolization for a mean of 2 days. The mean requirement for transfusion before embolization was 3.2 units. All patients except one were successfully embolized in a single setting with no complications. Bleeding was successfully controlled in one patient at the second attempt of embolization. There were minor complications, e.g. nausea, vomiting or fever, for a mean of 2 days, responding well to conservative treatment. At a mean follow-up of 22 months, no patient had a recurrence of bleeding. CONCLUSION: Internal iliac artery embolization is a feasible, effective and minimally invasive option in managing advanced pelvic urological malignancies presenting with intractable bleeding; it should be bilateral and permanent.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2003

Techniques and applications of transcatheter embolization procedures in pediatric cardiology.

Transcatheter embolization of congenital or acquired superfluous vascular structure has become routine procedures performed by interventional pediatric cardiologists. Embolization procedure is often part of a collaborative effort with cardiac surgeons to palliate complex congenital heart defect, such as in embolizing aortopulmonary collateral arteries in patient with single ventricle physiology. In other cases, the procedure is the definitive treatment as in embolizing coronary artery fistula. Pediatric cardiologists performing embolization procedures should be familiar with available technologies as well as understand the underlying cardiac anatomy and pathophysiology. This article provides a comprehensive review of presently available embolization agents and technologies. Some of the technologies are used only by interventional radiologists but may be useful to pediatric cardiologists. Specific clinical applications in pediatric cardiology are also discussed with summary of current literature. With continue advancement in transcatheter technology and operator expertise, all unwanted vascular communication should be amenable to transcatheter embolization.

Cardiac Catheterization↗
PubMed1996

Selective portal vein embolization with absolute ethanol induces hepatic hypertrophy and makes more extensive hepatectomy possible.

Portal vein embolization has been used recently to decrease the amount of the liver to be resected and to enhance the function of the remaining hypertrophied lobes. We have observed a strong contact destructivity of absolute ethanol and used it for portal vein embolization. The present study was performed to produce hepatic hypertrophy and to show histopathologic changes that follow ethanol embolization of rat liver. Hepatic proliferation and histopathology were studied in rats receiving low and high doses of absolute ethanol via portal vein and rats undergoing 70% hepatectomy alone. The liver weight of the unresected and unembolized lobes increased rapidly after embolization and hepatectomy. Although the increase was more rapid in the high-dose group than the low-dose group in early days, the final results were not different from each other and were almost equal to those after hepatectomy. Complete obstruction of portal venous branches and massive necrosis were the main histopathologic observations after portal vein embolization with all doses of ethanol. Because the mortality rate in the low-dose group was lower than in the high-dose group and extensive necrosis of the liver parenchyma and subsequent regeneration was sufficient, using minimum dose of ethanol was much safer. Based on the biochemical and hematologic parameters, portal vein embolization with low-dose ethanol did not impair liver function more than hepatectomy alone during the initial 14 days. Portal vein embolization with absolute ethanol makes more extensive hepatectomy possible by reducing the volume necessary to resect and preserves the function of the remaining liver.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Tumour embolization of the Vx2 rabbit head and neck cancer model with Dextran hydrogel and Holmium-poly(L-lactic acid) microspheres: a radionuclide and histological pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Intra-arterial embolization of unresectable malignant tumours with biodegradable microspheres is an effective way of selective anti-tumour therapy. Promising candidates are Dextran hydrogel (Dex) microspheres for chemo-embolization and Holmium-166 poly(L-lactic acid) (166HoPLA) microspheres for radio-embolization. This study was performed to investigate the distribution of intra-arterially injected microspheres both in vivo and histologically in order to establish an optimal size of particles for embolization of head and neck tumours. MATERIAL: Twenty rabbits with Vx2 auricular tumours were embolized via the caudal auricular artery with 4 different batches of microspheres: Radioactive (166)HoPLA microspheres sieved between 20 and 50 microm and Dextran hydrogel microspheres sieved between 20 and 100 microm (Dex20), 30 and 100 microm (Dex30) or 50 and 100 microm (Dex50). Dex20 and Dex50 microspheres were labelled with 99mTechnetium in six cases. METHODS: The average particle size of the microspheres was determined. The proportion of microspheres entrapped in the tumour was measured with a gamma camera. The distribution of microspheres around the primary tumour and spill of particles over into lungs or other organs was analysed from histological sections. RESULTS: The mean particle diameter varied from 19 to 66 microm: (166)HoPLA 19+/-11 microm, Dex20 40+/-19 microm, Dex30 50+/-19 microm, Dex50 66+/-21 microm. The 19 microm(166)HoPLA particles proved inadequate for embolization as 51% spilled over into the lungs, whereas over 95% of the 40-66 microm Dex microspheres were retained within the primary tumour area. Particle density in lung tissues proved significantly lower for the Dex50 group. Stray emboli to the brain occurred in two rabbits. CONCLUSION: The results of this investigation show that both Dextran hydrogel and holmium-166 poly(L-lactic acid) microspheres are potential candidates for embolization of head and neck cancer. In future studies, arterio-arteriolar anastomoses which might confound treatment should be identified and occluded. Particles with a number weighted mean diameter of at least 40 microm and a volume weighted mean size up to 70 microm should be used.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

Appearance of right bundle branch block in electrocardiograms of patients with pulmonary embolism as a marker for obstruction of the main pulmonary trunk.

A number of changes occur in the electrocardiogram (ECG) of pulmonary embolism. This article deals with the diagnostic value of the newly emerged right bundle branch block (RBBB) as a manifestation of acute right ventricular overload. A certain correlation between the extent of obstruction of the pulmonary artery and the appearance of RBBB is established through dynamic monitoring of the ECG. Fifty cases of dissectionally proven pulmonary embolism are observed, in 20 of which massive trunk obstruction had taken place, and in the remaining 30 peripheral embolism in the pulmonary artery was established. With 80% of the trunk embolism patients (16 cases), a newly emerged RBBB was detected in their ECG, and with the remaining 20% (4 cases), ST-segment depression and T-wave inversion in leads V(1)-V(4) were observed as well as right axis deviation. S(1)Q(3)T(3) syndrome was detected among 60% (12 cases) of trunk embolism patients. In none of the peripheral embolism cases was RBBB in the ECG registered. Thus, its appearance on dynamic monitoring of the ECG of pulmonary embolism patients is a significant sign of the probability of massive obstruction of the main pulmonary trunk.

Bundle-Branch Block↗
PubMed2001

Changes in esophageal variceal pressure after transcatheter arterial embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of transcatheter arterial embolization on esophageal variceal pressure and portal hemodynamics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Out of 18 cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, 12 underwent transcatheter arterial embolization and the remaining six patients underwent angiography alone as a control. We examined esophageal variceal pressure with an endoscopic pneumatic pressure sensor and portal blood flow with Doppler ultrasonography immediately before and 3 days after transcatheter arterial embolization or angiography. RESULTS: Angiography alone did not influence esophageal variceal pressure or portal blood flow. Transcatheter arterial embolization resulted in an increase in variceal pressure in five (42%) of the 12 patients and in a marked increase in portal blood flow in eight (88.9%) of nine patients, although no change in the endoscopic variceal findings was observed after transcatheter arterial embolization. The change in esophageal variceal pressure did not correlate with the change in portal blood flow. We could not find predictive factors for the elevation of variceal pressure after transcatheter arterial embolization. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that transcatheter arterial embolization resulted in an increase in esophageal variceal pressure in about half of the patients, bearing little relation to portal hemodynamic parameters.

Aged↗