Efficacy and complications of preoperative arterial embolization in the treatment of high sacral tumors

QI Dian-wen; HU Wen-hai; ZHANG Guo-chuan; HU Tong-yu; GUO Chang-zhi; CHEN Yan; ZHAO Jia-ning

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-252X.2013.11.002

Abstract：Objective To investigate the efifcacy and complications of preoperative arterial embolization in the surgical treatment of high sacral tumors. Methods The data of 37 patients with high sacral tumors who underwent surgical resection in our hospital between January 2006 and December 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative arterial embolization were performed in all the patients and surgery were performed within the following 24 hours. The data of surgical time, blood loss, transfusion volume, and the postoperative complications were collected by reviewing the arterial embolization record, image, operation record, progress notes, nursing records and etc. Results Angiography clearly demonstrated the blood supply of the tumor and the dimension of the lesion. The tumor stain was markedly reduced after selective embolization in angiography. The volume of the tumor was decreased, the margin of the tumor became clear, and blood loss during the exposure was reduced. The surgical time was ( 147.97±38.99 ) min, blood loss was ( 1932.35±1293.27 ) ml, transfusion volume was ( 1296.00±938.00 ) ml. No serious embolization-associated complications were observed in all the patients. The incidence of delayed wound healing was 18/37 ( 49%), and the incidence of wound infection was 8/37 ( 22%). Conclusions Preoperative arterial embolization is an effective supplementary means for the surgery of high sacral tumor, which can shorten the surgical time, reduce the blood loss and the transfusion volume. Meanwhile, it could increase the possibility of delayed wound healing and wound infection.