Background: Partial splenic artery embolization (PSE) is an effective treatment modality for patients with hypersplenism. It is less invasive and has a quicker recovery compared with surgical procedures. PSE is usually performed using a femoral artery approach that requires bedrest for a few hours, which is rarely the case for transradial PSE.
Purpose: To compare the transradial and transfemoral approaches for embolization of spleen in patients with hypersplenism.
Material and methods: In all, 84 patients with hypersplenism who required PSE were recruited. They were randomly divided into two groups on the basis of the procedure followed: the transradial approach (R-PSE, n = 39) or transfemoral approach (F-PSE, n = 45). Technical success, puncture rate, total procedure time, X-ray exposure time, length of stay in hospital (LOS), and complications of the two groups were recorded.
Results: The procedure time, X-ray exposure time, and LOS were found to be lower in the R-PSE group than in the F-PSE. However, this difference was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: The transradial artery approach for PSE in patients with hypersplenism is feasible with no major complications as compared to the femoral approach.
Keywords: Partial splenic embolization; cirrhosis; hypersplenism; radial artery approach; transfemoral approach.
© The Foundation Acta Radiologica 2015.