Transcatheter Arterial Embolization as a Life Saving Procedure in Intractable Bleeding from Advanced Cervical Cancer

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) to stop intractable bleeding from advanced cervical cancer.

Subjects Thirty four patients with intractable bleeding from advanced cervical cancer which could not be stopped by vaginal packing seen between January 1988-December 1997

Intervention TAE was performed to all the subjects using local anesthetic method, catheters were introduced percutaneously via axillary or femoral arteries into any pelvic vessels, followed by embolization of gelfoam at or closed to the bleeding point.

Results TAE successfully stopped severe vaginal bleeding in thirty two patients (94.12%) in single episode. One of them (2.94%) had to receive additional procedure including electrical cauterization, suturing of bleeding point and gelfoam packing in vagina and the other (2.94%) needed the second TAE. All the patients had no serious complications from this procedure.

Conclusion TAE is an effective and safe method for intractable bleeding from advanced cervical cancer.