Expanding role of emergency embolization in the management of severe blunt hepatic trauma.

Emergency embolization using Gelfoam particles alone, or in combination with stainless steel coils or epinephrine, was attempted in 4 patients with severe blunt hepatic trauma complicated by hypovolemic shock to control exsanguinating hemorrhage. Angiography prior to embolization revealed extravasation in all cases. None of the patients rebled or required further intervention. Postembolization course was uneventful in each case. Embolization could become the treatment of choice for more unstable and complicated patients than previously considered.