Evaluation of a Hydrogel Liquid Embolic Agent in a Porcine Mesenteric Hemorrhage Model

Purpose: To evaluate the ability to achieve hemostasis of a new liquid embolic agent in a porcine mesenteric artery hemorrhage model.

Materials and methods: An anticoagulated porcine mesenteric artery hemorrhage model was created using a transarterial approach. Arterial hemorrhage was the result of aspiration needle punctures and simultaneous radiofrequency current application. Ten injured mesenteric arteries in 8 swine were treated. The hydrogel liquid embolic agent under investigation, an aqueous-based and in situ polymerizing liquid embolic agent, was used to treat actively bleeding sites. At 7 days, confirmation angiography was performed, followed by necropsy.

Results: The mesenteric arterial injuries produced persistent and angiographically visible hemorrhage before initiating embolic therapy. Arteriovenous fistulae were observed in 4 cases. Embolization led to hemostasis in 10 of the 10 bleeds (100%). The mean embolic agent delivery time was 5.3 minutes (range, 1-15 minutes) with a mean embolic agent volume of 2.9 mL (range, 0.8-5.2 mL) delivered to achieve hemostasis. Notably, 40% of the treatments embolized the injury in the artery at the treatment site while leaving the native arterial lumen patent for the 7-day term of survival. All animals survived with no clinical evidence of hemorrhage through 7 days. Necropsy did not reveal evidence of ischemia within the bowel, liver, or lung.

Conclusions: A new hydrogel liquid embolic agent was found to achieve rapid and durable hemostasis in an animal model of acute mesenteric hemorrhage.