Complications after selective embolization in the bilateral internal iliac arteries and the median sacral artery with gelfoam particles in dogs.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to observe the complications after the bilateral internal iliac arteries and the median sacral artery embolization by different severity and combinations of gelfoam particles.

METHODS

Sixteen healthy adult dogs were randomly divided into five groups. Under the monitoring of digital subtraction angiography (DSA), gelfoam particles with diameter of 50-150 μm were applied. In group A, embolization was performed up to the trunk of bilateral internal iliac arteries and the median sacral artery; in group B, embolization was up to the trunk of bilateral internal iliac arteries; in group C, embolization was up to the first branch of bilateral internal iliac arteries and the median sacral artery; in group D, embolization was up to the trunk of unilateral internal iliac artery and the median sacral artery; in group E embolization was performed up to the trunk of unilateral internal iliac artery.

RESULTS

Seven dogs died within 48 hours after embolization. In the dead animals of groups A, C and D, there were rectum necrosis and lamellar obfuscation and hemorrhage edema in bladder. In the histological examination, there are rectum and bladder cell dissociation, inflammatory cell infiltration and epithelial cell ablating in the dead animals. The embolization mainly presented in arterioles with a diameter of 100-200 μm.

CONCLUSION

When gelfoam particles of 50-150 μm in diameter were applied for embolization in the internal iliac artery and median sacral artery, at least unilateral internal iliac artery should be preserved when embolization is performed in the proximal artery and the trunk.