PARTIAL SPLENIC EMBOLIZATION WITH Y-SHAPED SILICONE PARTICLES

We have developed an embolizing material consisting of Y-shaped silico ne particles for partial splenic embolization. Wide spaces for blood f low are left around the particles when these are lodged in arterial br anches. We embolized one kidney in each of 3 dogs with the particles a nd observed a slowly induced occlusion of renal arterial branches duri ng one month. The particles were also used for partial splenic emboliz ation in 14 patients. The average portion of infarcted spleen tissue 7 days after embolization was 51% calculated from CT images. In 6 patie nts who had CT both 2 and 7 days after embolization, the average rate of splenic infarction increased from 29% at 2 days to 60% at 7 days. O ur patients required analgesics for only 2.3 days on average. The Y-sh aped silicone particles by slowly occluding splenic arterial branches produce ischemia in a gradual fashion which may minimize the pain afte r embolization.