Use of inferior epigastric artery embolization to arrest bleeding at operative laparoscopy.

OBJECTIVE

To describe an innovative approach of embolization of the inferior epigastric artery after vascular trauma due to lateral trocar insertion at operative laparoscopy.

DESIGN

Case report.

SETTING

Operating theater and interventional radiology suite of a university hospital.

PATIENT(S): A 26-year-old woman with polycystic ovaries refractory to clomiphene citrate undergoing laparoscopic ovarian drilling.

INTERVENTION(S): Percutaneous selective left external iliac and left inferior epigastric angiography followed by embolization with platinum microcoils and polyvinyl alcohol.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Satisfactory hemostasis following traumatic injury to the inferior epigastric artery.

RESULT(S): Hemostasis was achieved using a novel interventive radiologic approach of embolization of the inferior epigastric artery after conventional surgical techniques had failed.

CONCLUSION(S): Arterial embolization is a novel additional measure in the armamentarium of the laparoscopic surgeon faced with intractable bleeding from the inferior epigastric vessels.