Value of "additional arterial embolization" to bilateral internal iliac TAE in patients with severe pelvic fractures

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of the bilateral internal iliac arteries has been shown to be of great value in controlling retroperitoneal massive hemorrhage associated with pelvic fractures. It has recently been reported, however, that TAE of only the bilateral internal iliac arteries sometimes fails to stabilize the patient's hemodynamics. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate "additional arterial embolization" to the bilateral internal iliac TAE in hemodynamically unstable cases. Sixty-eight patients who underwent emergency TAE following severe pelvic fractures were reviewed. Additional arterial embolization of the lumbar arteries in four patients, middle sacral arteries in two and inferior epigastric artery in one was carried out following bilateral internal iliac TAE. The damage to these arteries was associated with fractures of the lumbar costal process, sacrum, pubis, etc. The patients were in stable condition after the procedure, and no significant complication was experienced. When fractures and dislocations of the above-mentioned bones are seen on plain X-ray films and arterial bleeding is identified by angiography, additional embolization of the arteries should be performed immediately.