Introducing PHIL (precipitating hydrophobic injectable liquid) - a new embolic agent for the body interventional radiologist

Abstract

A number of embolic agents are currently available each with their own properties. Precipitating hydrophobic injectable liquid (PHIL) is a new dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) compatible embolic agent with a number of specific properties which make it of interest to interventional radiologists. We review the use of PHIL in a non-neurointerventional setting, describing its use in a range of procedures such as trauma embolization, pseudoaneurysm embolization, and tumor embolization. PHIL's properties include a lack of skin discoloration, the possibility of rapid injection and a lack of glare artifact on follow-up computed tomography imaging. These properties make it an important new tool in the armamentarium of the body interventional radiologist.

Figure 1. a, b

Angiogram (a) demonstrating active bleeding from right inferior gluteal artery. CT reconstruction (b) demonstrating good embolization of the branch both proximal and distal to the site of bleeding.

Figure 2. a, b

Angiogram (a) demonstrating arterial supply to the renal tumor. Angiogram (b) showing embolization with PHIL with preservation of blood flow to the remaining functioning renal parenchyma.

Figure 3. a, b

CT image (a) demonstrating pseudoaneurysm arising from the proximal common hepatic artery. CT reconstruction (b) demonstrating embolization performed from a small celiac collateral with closure of both afferent and efferent supply to the pseudoaneurysm, whilst preserving the main right hepatic artery.