Imagine that a blood vessel in your body is constantly bleeding, or that a vein supplying blood to a tumor is growing larger day by day. In the past, this kind of thing would have to be treated by performing a major surgery and cutting out the area. But now, because medical science has advanced, there is an amazing method that allows you to go inside the body through a small hole and 'block' only that particular blood vessel. Today, we are talking about this treatment method called Embolization, which many people have not heard of, but is very important.

Simply put, what is embolization?

Embolization is a minimally invasive medical procedure. It involves blocking or closing off a specific blood vessel in the body. Imagine that we put something inside a water pipe to stop the flow of water. Well, that's what's happening here.

This can sometimes be a pre-planned treatment. That is, something that the doctor will do after examining you and using a schedule. But sometimes, like in an emergency, this may also have to be done as an emergency treatment to stop excessive bleeding.

What help do we get from embolization?

Through this treatment method, we can obtain temporary or permanent solutions to many problems in our body. Mainly, this results in:

• Unclogging abnormally connected blood vessels : Sometimes the arteries and veins in our body can become abnormally intertwined. This procedure closes those tangled connections .
• Cutting off the blood supply to tumors: When the blood vessels that supply cancerous tumors and other abnormal growths are blocked, the tumors are deprived of nutrients. They may shrink or stop growing.
• Stopping or preventing excessive bleeding: This is a very effective way to stop excessive bleeding, either inside or outside the body.

What conditions are treated with embolization?

This treatment is used for a wide variety of conditions that can affect almost any part of the body. You can get a good idea of ​​it from the table below.

How does this treatment work? Who does it?

This treatment is performed by an Interventional Radiologist . That is, a specialist who uses scanning technologies such as X-rays to see inside the body, and who inserts very delicate instruments into the body to perform treatment without major surgery.

Simply put, he or she will make a very small hole in your skin, such as your wrist, groin, or neck. Then, through that hole, a very thin, flexible tube called a catheter is threaded through a blood vessel to the area that needs treatment. This is all done under the guidance of an X-ray-like screen. Once it is precisely targeted, special substances (embolic agents) are injected through the catheter to seal off the blood vessel.

What are embolic agents used to block blood vessels?

The material used will vary depending on your medical condition and the nature of the blood vessel that needs to be closed.

• Balloons: Very small balloons that can be inflated by inserting them into a blood vessel. These are used to temporarily or permanently close the vein.
• Gelatin foam: A sponge-like material that dissolves in the body within a few days.
• Liquid glue: A special type of glue that quickly hardens and is used to seal abnormal blood vessels.
• Metallic coils: Very fine coils of wire made of stainless steel and platinum. These can be precisely placed to block the artery.
• Particulate agents: Spherical particles of various sizes. These permanently block small blood vessels.

What happens during and after treatment?

What should I do before treatment?

Your doctor will likely order several scans, such as an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI , to get a better understanding of your blood vessels and blood flow before treatment. Also, if you are taking certain medications, such as blood thinners , you may be asked to stop taking them a few days before treatment.

What happens during treatment?

1. First, you will be given a mild sedation to put you into a light sleep. Then, only the area where the catheter will be inserted will be numbed.

2. Then, the specialist makes a small incision in the skin of the arm, groin, or neck.

3. The catheter is inserted into the blood vessel through that hole and guided to the desired location for treatment, using X-ray technology called fluoroscopy .

4. To clearly see the blood vessels and blood flow, a special dye (contrast dye) is injected through the catheter.

5. Then, the embolic agent we talked about earlier (something like a wire coil, gum, particles) is injected and the bleeding is confirmed.

6. When the procedure is complete, the catheter is removed and a small bandage is applied to the puncture site. No major incisions or stitches are required.

Benefits and risks of embolization treatment

What are the benefits of this treatment?

Embolization treatment is much more beneficial than regular open surgery.

• Bleeding can be controlled quickly and the treatment is very successful.
• It has less impact on the body than open surgery. There is a small hole instead of a large incision, so there is minimal bleeding.
• Recovery time is short, and most people can resume their normal activities within a week .
• The time spent in the hospital is short.

Are there any risks to this treatment?

As with any medical treatment, there are some risks involved. However, these are unlikely to occur. Your doctor will explain all of this to you in advance.

What should you pay attention to during recovery?

You will often have to stay in the hospital for at least one night after treatment. During this time, you will be given painkillers.

After you get home, you should rest well for a few days and limit physical activity.

• If you have a groin piercing: Reduce your activities such as going up and down stairs.
• If you have a wrist piercing: Stop doing strenuous activities such as writing and typing for a few days.

Strenuous activities such as lifting weights should be avoided completely. However, taking short walks every day can help prevent complications such as blood clots. It is also important to apply ice to the puncture site to reduce swelling and to keep the wound clean.

If you have these symptoms, call your doctor immediately!

If you experience any of the following symptoms after returning home from treatment, you should inform your doctor immediately . In case of an emergency, go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.