Use of inferior epigastric artery embolization to arrest bleeding at operative laparoscopy

Abstract

Objective: To describe an innovative approach of embolization of the inferior epigastric artery after vascular trauma due to lateral trocar insertion at operative laparoscopy.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Operating theater and interventional radiology suite of a university hospital.

Patient(s): A 26-year-old woman with polycystic ovaries refractory to clomiphene citrate undergoing laparoscopic ovarian drilling.

Intervention(s): Percutaneous selective left external iliac and left inferior epigastric angiography followed by embolization with platinum microcoils and polyvinyl alcohol.

Main outcome measure(s): Satisfactory hemostasis following traumatic injury to the inferior epigastric artery.

Result(s): Hemostasis was achieved using a novel interventive radiologic approach of embolization of the inferior epigastric artery after conventional surgical techniques had failed.

Conclusion(s): Arterial embolization is a novel additional measure in the armamentarium of the laparoscopic surgeon faced with intractable bleeding from the inferior epigastric vessels.