Effect of catheter-directed arterial embolization and laparoscopic endovascular stapling on stapled vessel integrity in a porcine model

Arterial embolization is a frequently performed adjunctive maneuver prior to laparoscopic splenectomy or nephrectomy to facilitate laparoscopic dissection and reduce intraoperative bleeding. However, little is known regarding the effect of laparoscopic stapling across thrombosed vessels with imbedded embolic materials. This study analyzed the stapled line integrity by comparing visceral arteries treated with either platinum coils or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles. Using a porcine model, 30 visceral vessels including splenic and renal arteries were treated with either coil or PVA embolization, which was followed by laparoscopic stapling. Vessel integrity and bursting pressure analysis was performed using an in vitro flow circuitry. The mean bursting pressure of the coil and the PVA group was 158 ± 56 and 350 ± 34 mm Hg, respectively (p < .001). The lowest bursting pressure in the coil and the PVA group was 70 and 280 mm Hg, respectively. The highest bursting pressure in the coil and the PVA group was 225 and 420 mm Hg, respectively. The bursting pressure in the splenic artery between the PVA and the coil group was 345 ± 29 and 150 ± 54 mm Hg, respectively (p < .001). Significant difference in the bursting pressure in the renal artery was noted in the PVA and the coil group, which was 350 ± 40 and 160 ± 40 mm Hg, respectively (p < .001). Our findings showed that preoperative coil embolization followed by laparoscopic vessel stapling sustained a poor busting pressure. Such a practice appears to be unsafe based on our findings and should be performed with caution in a clinical setting.