Transcatheter embolotherapy of maternal pulmonary ateriovenous malformations during pregnancy

Study objectives: To determine if transcatheter embolotherapy is safe and e ffective for the treatment of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations during pregnancy. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Specialized hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia centers at Yale University. School of Medicine and St. Michael's Hospital, University of To ronto. Patients: Seven pregnant women (age range, 24 to 34 years; gestational age range, 16 to 36 weeks) undergoing transcatheter embolotherapy. Interventions: Transcatheter embolotherapy in all patients. Measurements and results: Thirteen pulmonary arteriovenous malformations in seven patients were embolized with detachable silicone balloons and/or sta inless steel coils without incident. The estimated fetal radiation dose ran ged from < 50 to 220 mrad, So complications of pulmonary arteriovenous malf ormations occurred in any of the patients after transcatheter embolotherapy . The mothers went on to deliver healthy babies in all cases. Conclusions: Transcatheter embolotherapy of maternal pulmonary arteriovenou s malformations performed by an experienced radiologist appears to be safe and effective after 16 weeks of gestational age.