Table 2.
Embolic materials used for PVE: advantages and drawbacks.
| Material | Main advantages | Drawbacks | Occlusion | Pain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gelatin sponge | Easy handling Low inflammation |
Recanalization | Transient | Mild |
| PVA/MS plus coils/VP | Distal and proximal occlusion | Time consuming; more contrast and fluoroscopy time | Definitive∗2 | Mild |
| Fibrin glue | Robust hypertrophy | Very expensive∗1; fatal emboli to the brain reported | Definitive | NR |
| NBCA-lipiodol | Best hypertrophy? Cheap |
Steeper learning curve | Definitive | Moderate to severe |
| Ethanol | Robust hypertrophy Cheap |
Occlusion balloon usually adopted | Definitive | Moderate to severe |
| Foam | Cheap | Recanalization; occlusion balloon adopted | Definitive | Mild |
| EVOH | Controlled administration | Many vials needed; very expensive; time consuming | Definitive | Moderate to severe |
PVA: polyvinyl-alcohol particles; MS: microspheres; VP: vascular plug; NBCA: n-butyl-cyanoacrylate; EVOH: ethylene vinyl alcohol; NR: not reported; ∗1Some groups reported interruption of its use due to its elevated cost. ∗2There are reports of recanalization.