Ethanol embolotherapy of pelvic arteriovenous malformations: an initial experience.
OBJECTIVE
We retrospectively assessed the results of performing ethanol embolization for pelvis arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).


METHODS
During the past 10 years, eight patients (8 females, age range: 27-52 years) with AVMs in the pelvic wall (n = 3) and uterus (n = 5) underwent staged ethanol embolizations (range: 1-5, mean: 2.5) under general anesthesia. Ethanol embolization was performed by the use of the transcatheter and/or direct puncture techniques. Clinical follow-up was performed for all of the patients, and imaging follow-up was available for seven patients. The therapeutic outcomes were established by evaluating the clinical outcome of the signs and symptoms, as well as the degree of devascularization observed on post-procedural angiography.


RESULTS
During the 20 sessions of ethanol embolization, the solitary transarterial approach was used 14 times, the transvenous approach was used three times and direct puncture was used once. For two patients, the transarterial and transvenous or direct puncture approaches were used together in one session. For four patients, ethanol and coils were used as embolic agents, and n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) and ethanol were used in one patient. Seven (88%) of eight patients were cured of their AVMs and one patient (12%) displayed improvement. Major complications were seen in two patients (25%).


CONCLUSIONS
Ethanol embolization is effective for the treatment of pelvic arteriovenous malformations, though there is a chance of a major complication.
Bae
Sooho
S
Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Do
Young Soo
YS
Shin
Sung Wook
SW
Park
Kwang Bo
KB
Kim
Dong-Ik
DI
Kim
Young Wook
YW
Cho
Sung Ki
SK
Choo
Sung Wook
SW
Choo
In Wook
IW
D000328:Adult; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000628:therapy*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004659:Enbucrilate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis / Q000098:blood supply*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012997:Solvents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*
D012997:Solvents; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D000431:Ethanol; D004659:Enbucrilate