28 - Angiographic Embolization for Treatment of Thoracic Wall Hemorrhage: A Single Institution Study

Sunday, April 12, 2026

4:03 PM - 4:12 PM ET

Presenting Author(s)

Qian Yu, MD (he/him/his)

Resident
University of Chicago, United States

Author/Co-author(s)

Erika Yee, BS (she/her/hers)

Medical Student
Univeristy of Arizona, College of Medicine, United States
MA

Mohamed S. Aldallal, MD

Resident
University of Chicago Medical Center, United States
OO

Olasubomi Omoleye, MD

Resident
Department of Radiology, University of Chicago, United States
Steven Zangan, MD

Associate Professor
University of Chicago, United States
AF

Asem Fitian, MD

Resident Physician
University of Chicago Interventional Radiology, United States
Brian Funaki, MD, FSIR

Professor of Radiology
University of Chicago, United States
Rakesh C. Navuluri, MD, FSIR

Associate Professor
University of Chicago, United States
JL

Jonathan Lorenz, MD, FSIR

Professor of Radiology
The University of Chicago, United States

Purpose: Transarterial embolization (TAE) is an effective minimally invasive treatment for traumatic hemorrhage and gastrointestinal arterial bleeding, but its use for thoracic wall hemorrhage is less frequently reported in the literature. Open surgery for thoracic wall hemorrhage is more invasive, requiring extensive dissection to locate bleeding vessels, while untreated hemorrhage can lead to significant blood loss. This study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transarterial embolization for treatment of chest wall hemorrhage.

Materials and Methods: A single institutional retrospective review was performed from April 2015 to April 2024, including a total of 44 adults who underwent TAE for active chest wall hemorrhage. Patient baseline characteristics, procedure metrics, technical success, clinical success, transfusion requirement, and mortality were reviewed. Factors associated with post-embolization transfusion and in-hospital mortality were evaluated.

Results: Technical success was achieved in 97.7% of patients (43/44). The clinical success rate was 90.7% (39/43). Patients who needed blood transfusions post-TAE had more coagulopathy (6/26 vs. 9/17, p=0.045), longer fluoroscopy times (29.6 vs. 16.4 min, p=0.0002), higher air kerma (915.5 vs. 325.5 mGy, p=0.0110), and greater contrast agent use (159.2 vs. 98.6 ml, p=0.0011). Coagulopathy (OR: 9.9, p=0.004), baseline hemodynamic stability (OR: 0.046, p=0.038), and post-embolization transfusion (OR: 0.19, p=0.033) were linked to in-patient mortality. One procedure-related major adverse event occurred, which was a femoral artery pseudoaneurysm.

Conclusion: TAE for active chest wall hemorrhage was safe and effective. Patients with coagulopathy, baseline hemodynamic instability, and higher case complexity were associated with worse post-embolization prognosis