Portal vein embolization with use of a new liquid embolic material: an experimental study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new liquid embolic material in portal vein embolization (PVE).


METHODS
A new embolic material (Embol) was percutaneously injected into the left portal vein of 13 swine, using a balloon catheter to prevent reflux. The swine were killed immediately (n = 6), 2 weeks (n = 4), and 4 weeks (n = 3) after the PVE, and the volumes of the right and left lobes were measured. The changes in body temperature, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (formerly SGOT), alanine aminotrasferase (ALT) (formerly SGPT), and bilirubin levels after the PVE were studied, and the histopathologic changes in the embolized and nonembolized lobes were examined with light microscopy.


RESULTS
The average volume ratio of the right:left lobe immediately after the PVE was 55(+/-2):45(+/-1), and changed to 71(+/-3):29(+/-3) at 2 weeks and 82(+/-3):18(+/-3) at 4 weeks after embolization. There were only mild changes in AST, ALT, and bilirubin levels, and only one pig showed a significant elevation in body temperature after PVE. Microscopically, the embolized lobe showed contraction of hepatocyte without any sign of necrosis and the nonembolized lobe expansion of hepatocyte.


CONCLUSIONS
The new embolic material seems effective and safe for PVE.
Park
S
S
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
Yoon
H K
HK
Lee
N
N
Huh
S J
SJ
Kang
G H
GH
Lee
I
I
Sung
K B
KB
Song
H Y
HY
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011172:Portography; D012449:Safety; D013552:Swine; D000637:Transaminases / Q000378:metabolism
D011145:Polyvinyls; C013215:polyvinyl acetate; D000637:Transaminases