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

PurposeTo evaluate the ability to achieve hemostasis of a new liquid embolic agent in a porcine mesenteric artery hemorrhage model.Materials and MethodsAn 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionsA new hydrogel liquid embolic agent was found to achieve rapid and durable hemostasis in an animal model of acute mesenteric hemorrhage.