Abstract
Purpose: We examined indications for transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in cases sustaining blunt abdominal trauma in rural areas. Methods: Twenty-five trauma cases in which TAE had been performed in our hospital were retrospectively studied. Injured organs, classification of injury, other traumas, embolized vessels, time from arrival to TAE, blood transfusion volume, reaction to volume resuscitation, complications, surgical procedures, assessment by the trauma and injury severity score (TRISS) method, outcome and the survival rates were analyzed. Results: The average injury severity score (ISS) was 32. Twelve patients did not receive a blood transfusion before emergency TAE. Five patients survived offer TAE in eight non-responders. Four of the patients required surgery for hemostasis after TAE. Three patients died, but these three deaths were unpreventable. Conclusions: In hospitals located in rural areas, preparation for blood transfusion takes a long time. TAE is first performed followed by an operation in the treatmeut of unstable blunt abdominal trauma cases.
