An Overview of Splenic Embolization

Expert consensus on interventional therapy for traumatic splenic bleeding

This study aims to introduce the diagnosis and treatment processes of traumatic splenic bleeding and explain its emergency, medical, interventional, and surgical treatments. Furthermore, this study aims to summarize the indications and contraindications of splenic artery embolization, interventional procedures, and precautions of complications.

Metalophagia: Splenic artery pseudoaneurysm after foreign body ingestion and retrieval

Persistent eating of non-nutritive, nonfood substances (Pica) is seen in children and adult patients with psychiatric problems. Ingestion of multiple metallic FBs with resultant bezoar formation is rare. While many FBs are passed without complication, mucosal injury, bleeding, obstruction or perforation can occur in some cases. Endoscopic FB removal is performed in 20% of patients following FB ingestion. Generally, these are safe procedures, and very effective in extracting ingested FBs. We report, a 25-year-old male patient with a metal ingestion predominant Pica, requiring multiple prior extraction procedures (including open gastrostomy). He developed a splenic artery pseudoaneurysm following his latest endoscopic FB removal, that was successfully treated with transarterial coil embolization. The unique circumstances leading to this rare complication and its successful endovascular management make this case worthy of report.

Splenic trauma, the way forward in reducing splenectomy: our 15-year experience

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to study radiological assessment, management and outcome of traumatic splenic injury over 15 years in a UK district general hospital.

METHOD

A retrospective database was established including all splenic injury cases from June 2002 to June 2017 by searching the clinical electronic database. We searched the radiological database for computed tomography reported phrases 'spleen injury', 'laceration', 'haematoma', 'trauma'. We interrogated theatre records for operations coded as splenectomy and cross-referenced this with pathology. Records were reviewed for demographics, vital observations, documentation of American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grading of splenic injury, subsequent management and outcomes.

RESULTS

There were 126 patients identified with traumatic splenic injury, with male to female ratio three to one. Operative management was undertaken in 54/126 (43%) patients and selective non-operative management in the remaining. Splenic artery embolisation was undertaken in 5/126 (4%) and 2/126 underwent splenorrhaphy. Computed tomography was undertaken in 109/126 (87%) patients and AAST grading was reported in 18 (17%) patients. AAST grade reporting did not improve significantly when comparing the first 7.5 years with the latter (2/30, 7%; 16/79, 20%), respectively; p = 0.09). Selective non-operative management increased significantly over the studied period (14/34, 42%; 58/93, 62%; p = 0.04). The overall hospital mortality was 10.3%.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

AAST grade reporting of splenic injury has remained sub-optimal over 15 years. Despite progression towards selective non-operative management, operative intervention remained unacceptably high, with splenectomy being the main therapeutic modality. Standardisation through an integrated multidisciplinary diagnostic and management pathway offers the optimal strategy to reduce trauma-induced splenectomy.

Update: Splenic Artery Embolization in Blunt Abdominal Trauma

The spleen is the most commonly injured organ after blunt abdominal trauma. Nonoperative management with splenic arterial embolization (SAE) is the current standard of care for hemodynamically stable patients. Current data favor the use of proximal and coil embolization techniques in adults, while observation is suggested in the pediatric population. In this review, the authors describe the most recent evidence informing the clinical indications, techniques, and complications for SAE.

Splenic Rupture Secondary to Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Managed by Coil Embolization of the Splenic Artery

Aim  Atraumatic splenic rupture is uncommon and life-threatening. It may be related to underlying pathology and be the initial manifestation of the condition. Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (V-EDS) is a rare autosomal dominant collagen vascular disorder, associated with vessel fragility and rupture. We describe a child presenting with splenic rupture managed by embolization of the splenic artery. She was subsequently diagnosed with V-EDS. Case Description  A 11-year-old girl with thalassemia trait presented with sudden onset of abdominal pain and hypovolemic shock. There was no history of trauma. Following resuscitation, abdominal computed tomography showed hemoperitoneum and active splenic arterial extravasation. Angiography demonstrated four bleeding points, from irregular vessels supplying the upper two-thirds of the spleen. These were not amenable to supraselective embolization. Therefore, coil embolization of the main splenic artery was performed, with no splenic supply seen on the postembolization angiogram. Her postoperative recovery was complicated by pancreatitis secondary to partial ischemia of the pancreatic tail. Subsequent extensive investigations excluded hematological, myeloproliferative, and infective causes for her splenic rupture. A safeguarding investigation was completed, with no pertinent factors identified. Findings of thin skin, abnormal bruising, and hypermobile joints raised a clinical suspicion of a connective tissue disorder. Genetic testing revealed a de novo mutation of the COL3A1 gene. Conclusions  There are only four reports of V-EDS causing splenic rupture in the literature to date. These patients were all adults and only one had not previously been diagnosed with V-EDS. All underwent splenectomy. While V-EDS presenting with abdominal visceral rupture in children has been reported, this is the first report of a child with V-EDS presenting with splenic rupture. It is the only case of splenic rupture secondary to V-EDS that has been managed minimally invasively by embolization.

First Case Report of Successful PCI with Thrombocytopenia Treated with Partial Splenic Artery Embolization

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with thrombocytopenia presents a difficult problem in that dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation is not suitable. This first case report describes our patient with angina pectoris and thrombocytopenia who we successfully treated with PCI after partial splenic artery embolization (PSE). A 70-year-old Japanese male was transferred to our hospital because of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). After medical treatment was administered, a coronary angiography (CAG) revealed three-vessel disease. He had severe thrombocytopenia (nadir of 27,000/μL) due to liver fibrosis. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and PCI were not feasible. PSE was performed, and splenic volume reduction was confirmed by computed tomography. As a result, the platelet count increased after PSE and we completed the PCI with a DES. Major bleeding complications and cardiac events did not occur under the DAPT. To the best of our knowledge, performing PSE before PCI for increasing a patient's platelet count for thrombocytopenia has never been reported. This method may be considered as one of the treatment strategies for angina patients with thrombocytopenia.

Review of proximal splenic artery embolization in blunt abdominal trauma

The spleen is the most commonly injured organ in blunt abdominal trauma. Unstable patients undergo laparotomy and splenectomy. Stable patients with lower grade injuries are treated conservatively; those stable patients with moderate to severe splenic injuries (grade III-V) benefit from endovascular splenic artery embolization. Two widely used embolization approaches are proximal and distal splenic artery embolization. Proximal splenic artery embolization decreases the perfusion pressure in the spleen but allows for viability of the spleen to be maintained via collateral pathways. Distal embolization can be used in cases of focal injury. In this article we review relevant literature on splenic embolization indication, and technique, comparing and contrasting proximal and distal embolization. Additionally, we review relevant anatomy and discuss collateral perfusion pathways following proximal embolization. Finally, we review potential complications of splenic artery embolization.

Intra-arterial ampicillin and gentamicin and the incidence of splenic abscesses following splenic artery embolization: A 20-year case control study

PURPOSE

Splenic abscesses represent a major complication following splenic artery embolization. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of intra-arterial antibiotics administered during splenic artery embolization in reducing splenic abscess formation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

406 patients were screened. 313 (77.1%) patients who underwent splenic artery embolization and were >18 years old were included. Mean age of the cohort was 58 ± 15 years (range: 18-88 years). There were 205 (65.5%) male patients and 108 (34.5%) female patients. 197 (62.9%) patients underwent embolization without intra-arterial antibiotics and 116 (37.1%) patients underwent embolization with 1 g ampicillin and 80 mg gentamicin administered in an intra-arterial fashion. Primary outcome was splenic abscess formation. Secondary outcomes included type of splenic artery embolization, embolic agent, and technical success.

RESULTS

Partial splenic embolization was performed in 229 (73.1%) patients. Total splenic embolization was performed in 84 (26.8%) patients. Platinum coils were the most commonly used embolic agent overall (n = 178; 56.9%) followed by particulates (n = 114; 36.4%). Embolization technical success was achieved in 312 (99.7%) patients. 7 (3.6%) splenic abscesses were detected in the non-intra-arterial antibiotic group and 1 (0.9%) in the intra-arterial antibiotic cohort (P = 0.27). Coils were found to be statistically more likely to result in splenic abscesses than any other embolic agent (P = 0.03). Mean time to abscess identification was 74 days ±120 days (range: 9-1353 days).

CONCLUSION

Splenic abscesses occurred more frequently in patients who did not receive intra-arterial antibiotics during splenic embolization; however, this did not reach statistical significance.

Three cases of spontaneous splenic rupture in malignant lymphoma

Spontaneous splenic rupture is a rare but often life-threatening condition. However, there is no consensus on appropriate management for this condition, due to its rarity. Here, we report three cases of malignant lymphoma with spontaneous splenic rupture. In each case, progression of splenic bleeding was rapid and complicated by malignant lymphoma. Spontaneous splenic rupture complicated by malignant lymphoma may cause exacerbation of anemia and hypovolemic shock. When splenic rupture is indicated by abdominal pain, tachycardia, or hypotension in a patient with splenomegaly, abdominal examination should be performed immediately, and emergency transcatheter arterial embolization and/or splenectomy should be considered.

Thermal ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with abnormal coagulation function

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety of thermal ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with abnormal coagulation function.

METHODS

Fifty-seven HCC tumours in 50 patients were treated with thermal ablation. All patients had a meted platelet count <50 × 10⁹/L or international normalised ratio (INR) ≥ 1.7. Gastroscopy before ablation, platelet concentrate or fresh frozen plasma transfusion during ablation and contrast enhanced ultrasoundgraphy (CEUS)-guided ablation to cease needle tract bleeding were performed to reduce haemorrhage. The incidences of haemorrhage and other major complications were recorded and patients were followed up to observe the local tumour progression (LTP), intrahepatic distant recurrence (IDR), overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates.

RESULTS

Two incidences of needle tract bleeding and one needle tract bleeding together with bleeding at the suture of the spleen fossa were found. Three needle tract bleeding events were detected by CEUS and ceased after CEUS-guided complementary ablation. CEUS failed to detect bleeding at the suture of the spleen fossa. Therefore, a laparotomy was conducted for haemostasis. No other major complications were found after ablation. The median follow-up periods were 18.7 ± 12.0 months (range 1 ∼ 42 months) and 1 LTP and 15 IDRs occurred. The 1-, 2- and 3-year OS rates were 84.8%, 82.7% and 82.7%, and RFS rates were 67.9%, 64.0% and 64.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

With gastroscopy before ablation, platelet concentrate or fresh frozen plasma transfusion during ablation and CEUS-guided ablation to cease needle tract bleeding, thermal ablation is a safe treatment for HCC in patients with abnormal coagulation function.

An update on nonoperative management of the spleen in adults

Many patients with blunt splenic injury are considered for nonoperative management and, with proper selection, the success rate is high. This paper aims to provide an update on the treatments and dilemmas of nonoperative management of splenic injuries in adults and to offer suggestions that may improve both consensus and patient outcomes.

Partial spleen embolization reduces the risk of portal hypertension-induced upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients not eligible for TIPS implantation

Introduction

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a severe and life-threatening complication among patients with portal hypertension (PH). Covered transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is the treatment of choice for patients with refractory or recurrent UGIB despite pharmacological and endoscopic therapy. In some patients, TIPS implantation is not possible due to co-morbidity or vascular disorders. Spleen embolization (SE) may be a promising alternative in this setting.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively analyzed 9 patients with PH-induced UGIB who underwent partial SE between 2012 and 2016. All patients met the following criteria: (i) upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage with primary or secondary failure of endoscopic interventions and (ii) TIPS implantation not possible. Each patient was followed for at least 6 months after embolization.

Results

Five patients (56%) suffered from cirrhotic PH, 4 patients (44%) from non-cirrhotic PH. UGIB occured in terms of refractory hemorrhage from gastric varices (3/9; 33%), hemorrhage from esophageal varices (3/9; 33%), and finally, hemorrhage from portal-hypertensive gastropathy (3/9; 33%). None of the patients treated with partial SE experienced re-bleeding episodes or required blood transfusions during a total follow-up time of 159 months, including both patients with cirrhotic- and non-cirrhotic PH.

Discussion

Partial SE, as a minimally invasive intervention with low procedure-associated complications, may be a valuable alternative for patients with recurrent PH-induced UGIB refractory to standard therapy.

Partial splenic embolization to permit continuation of systemic chemotherapy

Systemic chemotherapy treatments, commonly those that comprise oxaliplatin, have been linked to the appearance of distinctive liver lesions that evolves to portal hypertension, spleen enlargement, platelets sequestration, and thrombocytopenia. This outcome can interrupt treatment or force dosage reduction, decreasing efficiency of cancer therapy. We conducted a prospective phase II study for the evaluation of partial splenic embolization in patients with thrombocytopenia that impeded systemic chemotherapy continuation. From August 2014 through July 2015, 33 patients underwent partial splenic embolization to increase platelets count and allow their return to treatment. Primary endpoint was the accomplishment of a thrombocyte level superior to 130 × 10⁹/L and the secondary endpoints were the return to chemotherapy and toxicity. Partial splenic embolization was done 36 times in 33 patients. All patients presented gastrointestinal cancer and colorectal malignancy was the commonest primary site. An average of 6.4 cycles of chemotherapy was done before splenic embolization and the most common regimen was Folfox. Mean platelet count prior to embolization was 69 × 10⁹/L. A total of 94% of patients achieved primary endpoint. All patients in need reinitiated treatment and median time to chemotherapy return was 14 days. No grade 3 or above adverse events were identified. Aiming for a 50% to 70% infarction area may be sufficient to achieve success without the complications associated with more extensive infarction. Combined with the better safety profile, partial splenic embolization is an excellent option in the management of thrombocytopenia, enabling the resumption of systemic chemotherapy with minimal procedure‐related morbidity.