Embolizime

Embolizime, or embolization in English, is a medical procedure in which blood flow to a target tissue or lesion is deliberately occluded by introducing embolic material through a catheter, usually under imaging guidance. The goal is to cut off blood supply to a area of disease, thereby controlling bleeding, reducing tumor vascularity, or preparing a region for surgery.

Embolic agents used in embolizime vary widely. They include calibrated microspheres and polyvinyl alcohol particles, gelatin sponge (gelfoam), mechanical devices such as microcoils and vascular plugs, and liquid agents like n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) or Onyx. The choice depends on factors such as vessel size, desired permanence of the occlusion, and the risk to nearby tissues. The procedure is typically performed via arterial access with real-time imaging, most commonly fluoroscopy, and may also use CT guidance in some cases.

Indications for embolizime span oncologic, vascular, and hemorrhagic conditions. In cancer care, it is used for liver tumors in transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or bland embolization, and as a preoperative step to decrease tumor blood flow. It is also employed to treat uterine fibroids, to control active bleeding from gastrointestinal or pelvic sources, and to manage vascular malformations such as arteriovenous malformations. In trauma or critical care, embolization can rapidly control hemorrhage when surgical options are risky or infeasible.

Risks and complications include non-target embolization leading to ischemia of healthy tissue, tissue necrosis, post-embolization syndrome (pain, fever, nausea), infection, vessel injury, contrast reactions, and radiation exposure. Most adverse events are manageable with appropriate technique and follow-up.

Outcomes vary by indication and patient; embolizime can be curative or palliative, often enabling less invasive management and shorter recovery compared with surgery.