Autologous blood clot - embolization agent

The autologous blood clot or patch is a temporary embolization agent adapted for large vessel occlusion procedures such as hemostatic embolizations but can also be used as a seal for a biopsy trajectory during lung and hepatic biopsies.

Advantages

• biocompatible

• inexpensive

• simple, rapid, and easy preparation

Disadvantages

Short embolization duration with vessel recanalization in hours/days, due to fibrinolysis.

Indications

Vascular interventional procedures

• hemostatic embolization of

  • gastroduodenal artery during gastroduodenal bleeding ¹

  • small branch perforation due to percutaneous coronary intervention ²

  • renal artery pseudoaneurysm ^3,4

• penile artery embolization ⁵ in post-traumatic priapism

• transcatheter arterial chemoembolization of HCC ⁶

Percutaneous interventional procedures

• biopsy trajectory seal after a lung biopsy to avoid pneumothorax ⁷

• liver biopsy trajectory seal to prevent bleeding

• autologous blood patch pleurodesis treatment for persistent pneumothorax in dogs ⁸

Urology procedures

Lower calyceal occlusion to prevent stone fragment reaccumulation after retrograde intrarenal surgery for lower calyceal stones ⁹.

Neurology

It could be used as an epidural blood patch to prevent headaches following lumbar puncture.

Preparation

1. collect the amount of whole blood needed in a syringe (e.g. 10 ml, 20 ml)

2. at room temperature, leave the blood undisturbed for 15–30 minutes to allow clot formation

3. discard the supernatant (serum)

4. opacify the clot using sterile tantalum powder or iodinated contrast (optional)

5. inject the blood clot into target destination