Pelvic bleeding treated with embolization

Case contributed by Andrew Dixon
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Car accident.

Patient Data

Age: 80
Gender: Female

This case featured in our 2016 Trauma Radiology Course which is now available to view online.

Large right extrapelvic hematoma with hematocrit level and evidence of active bleeding from a small arterial branch just behind a minimally displaced fracture of the right public body. The hematoma causes marked deviation of the urinary bladder to the left. A right femoral neck fracture is also present. 

The patient was haemodynamically unstable and proceeded to pelvic embolization. Selective catheterization of the offending right internal iliac artery branch confirmed ongoing active bleeding. An embolization wire was deployed which occluded the artery, stopping further bleeding. On the unsubtracted images, the pelvic hematoma is well seen displacing the contrast filled urinary bladder. 

Case Discussion

An example of how even a small minimally displaced pelvic fracture can produce substantial ongoing arterial bleeding and hemodynamic instability. Identification of the active bleeding site on CT allowed for subsequent selective arterial catheter placement and successful embolization and hemostasis. 

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