Blunt and penetrating traumatic injuries may result in acute or subacute vascular
injuries. These injuries to solid organs and extremity vessels are often managed in
a conservative fashion. Acuity and hemodynamic compromise may dictate a surgical course;
however, interventional techniques first popularized in the early 1970s now offer
a wide range of solutions principally using transcatheter arterial embolization. There
are a wide range of materials and clinical scenarios for which embolization is appropriate.
Embolic agents such as coils, Gelfoam, and particles may be used individually or in
combination to stop or control bleeding. In this way, embolotherapy may prove to be
the safest and most effective form of therapy. The purpose of this article is to review
the indications for embolization in the trauma patient and to provide guidelines regarding
techniques and material selection.
KEYWORDS
Embolization - trauma - transcatheter arterial embolization
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Jason R BauerM.D.
UCHSC Radiology, 4200 East 9th Avenue, C277, Denver, CO, 80218
Email: jason.bauer@uchsc.edu
