Partial splenic embolization in the treatment of hypersplenism.

Transcatheter embolization of the spleen has been associated with serious complications, such as splenic abscess, rupture of the spleen, pneumonia, and septicemia. These complications, with their grave consequences, have prevented the use of this procedure as an alternative to operative splenectomy in selected cases. A detailed description of our method, which consists of partial splenic embolization, antibiotic prophylaxis, adequate pain control, and careful pre- and postembolization, is reported. Thirteen patients with hypersplenism were successfully treated with transcatheter partial embolization of their spleen.