Elective and emergency embolotherapy in children and adolescents. Efficacy and safety.

Twenty-one embolizations were performed in 19 children and adolescents. Ten patients underwent emergency embolotherapy to control bleeding from trauma (5), neoplastic disease (2), mycotic aneurysm (1), post-operative bleeding (1), and hemoptysis (1). Nine patients underwent elective embolotherapy. In 5 patients with hypervascular tumors, it was performed as an adjunct to surgery or chemotherapy. In 3 patients, embolotherapy was the primary mode of treatment for vascular malformations in the lung, pelvis, and kidney. One patient with systemic-pulmonary arterial collaterals was treated for high-output congestive heart failure. Embolotherapy was successful in controlling bleeding in all cases. There were no major complications or procedure-related mortalities. Minor complications occurred in 2 patients. Our results indicate that percutaneous transcatheter embolotherapy in children and adolescents is safe and effective and has wide application in both elective and emergency management of vascular lesions in this age group.