Efficacy of Transcatheter Arterial Embolization in the Traumatic Injury

This study evaluated technical and clinical outcomes and identified factors associated with clinical success in trauma patients that underwent transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in a single regional hospital. A retrospective study was performed of 106 patients with a variety of trauma who were suspected of active arterial bleeding and underwent angiography. Technical success was defined as non-visualization of extravasation and pseudoaneurysm in injured arteries. Clinical success was defined as the patient was not expired within 30 days from the date of TAE. Electronic medical records were reviewed. The risk factors between groups of clinical success and failure were analyzed statistically. Technical and clinical success rates of TAE were 96% (102/106) and 70% (74/106) respectively. Of the factors we assessed, age, older than 60 years, systolic blood pressure and heart rate at admission and after TAE, and combined brain injury were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Old age, low systolic blood pressure after TAE, and combined brain injury were significant predictors of poor prognosis in multivariate analysis. TAE is an effective treatment for active arterial bleeding of the traumatic injury patient.