Endovascular embolization (EE) is a medical technique that requires an incision. It’s a therapy that’s used to treat damaged blood arteries in the brain and other parts of the body.
This method can be used instead of open surgery. It constricts blood vessels, preventing blood flow to the affected area.
If you have one of the following conditions, your doctor may offer EE to you:
Abnormal growths in your circulatory system arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of your brain and spine, which are knots of blood vessels that are sensitive to bleeding severe nosebleeds tumors, such as uterine fibroids, that can be shrunk by limiting their blood flow abnormal growths in your circulatory system arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of your brain and spine, which are knots of blood vessels that are sensitive to bleeding
EE can be utilized as a stand-alone treatment or as a pre-operative procedure. Surgery can be made safer by cutting off blood flow to a damaged location.
How does embolization work?
A team of physicians, nurses, and technologists perform this treatment in an angiography suite. The interventional neuroradiologist is the procedure’s primary doctor.
Your primary care provider conducts a rigorous pre-admission process, which includes a history and physical examination. Depending on your medical history, further blood tests and diagnostic examinations may be required prior to the treatment.
You will be under general anesthesia for the procedure. A small incision is made over the artery in the groin area while you are unconscious. A needle is generally used to puncture the artery.
A sheath is a thin hollow tube that is inserted into the artery to provide constant access to it. A catheter is then inserted into the arteries leading to the aneurysm through the sheath. The entire procedure is carried out under x-ray guidance. Once the catheter is in place, the embolic material is delivered into the aneurysm via a delivery system.
- To help in brain aneurysm embolization, some aneurysms necessitate the use of adjunctive devices:
- To maintain the embolic material inside the aneurysm, a balloon might be temporarily inflated.
- A stent is required for some aneurysms to maintain the coils in place.
Aftercare of endovascular embolization:
You’ll have to stay in bed for 6-8 hours. Expect a two-day hospital stay, with the possibility of a prolonged stay if difficulties arise.
While you recover at home, you may need to adjust your activity level. It could take up to a week to complete this task. The following services may be provided at home:
- You need to get plenty of rest
- Taking care of the wound
- Rehabilitative or physical treatment
- For the next few weeks, it’s important to drink plenty of fluids. This will aid in the prevention of headaches.
- Increase your activities gradually as convenient.
- For the next five days, you should avoid lifting anything heavier than ten pounds.
- Avoid straining your leg by bending it at the hip.
- For the first 48 hours after your embolization treatment, support your groin site with your hand when coughing, climbing stairs, or changing positions.
- Maintain the puncture site’s dryness. If you experience under-the-skin bleeding or swelling, lie down and apply firm pressure to the puncture site for 10 to 20 minutes.
- Showering is permitted 24 hours following your operation. Wash the area with warm water gently. Allow airing to dry. Cover any remaining slits in the skin with a bandage until they close. You are free to shower. Do not bathe in tubs or swim in lakes or pools until your puncture site is free of scabs.
- If you’ve had general anesthesia or are taking narcotics, you won’t be able to drive for 48 hours.
- In addition, you should wait 48 hours before drinking alcoholic beverages, making crucial judgments, or signing essential documents.
Outlook of the procedure:
Your recovery time will be determined by your overall health at the time of the embolization surgery. Your recovery time will be influenced by your underlying medical condition. Your outlook is determined by the ailment being treated. Bleeding to the brain before, during, or after the procedure may cause irreversible brain damage.
The goal is to prevent damage, but AVMs and other abnormalities aren’t always detected until they’ve started to bleed.
EE is usually successful and has a positive effect. It can help you avoid bleeding from a burst aneurysm or other type of venous abnormality. It can also help to relieve tumor pain and reduce the frequency of nosebleeds.
