Experience with Compressed Gelfoam Plugs inChildren during Liver Biopsies and Other IR Procedures: A Retrospective Single-Center Case Series.

Abstract

To analyze the experience using compressed gelfoam plugs (CGPs) in children during liver biopsies and other interventional procedures. This was a single-center, retrospective, consecutive case series of 477 various pediatric interventional radiology procedures using CGPs (January 2012 to December 2016) performed on 397 children (209 males, 188 females; median age, 7 years [range, 9 days-17.8 years]; median weight, 18 kg [range, 2.7-141 kg]). Of 477 procedures, most (n= 371) were liver biopsies, 98 were biopsies of other organs, and 8 were non-biopsy procedures. Analysis focused on liver biopsies. Of liver biopsies, a median of 2 CGPs were used per procedure, and the mean drop in hemoglobin was -0.36 g/dl (-3.0% change). Thirty-seven mild, 8 moderate, 2 severe, and 1 life-threatening (an anaphylaxis to CGP) adverse events (AEs) occurred. Analysis of liver biopsies with AEs showed significant association between number of passes, cores, and focal-type lesions (unadjusted logistic regression: P= .007, P= .022, P= .028, respectively) and age, weight, and number of passes (adjusted multiple logistic regression: P=.006, P= .032, P= .046, respectively). Technical problems relating to CGP deployment were noted in 5 (1%), without any AEs. CGPs were used in a wide variety of procedures and organs in children. There was 1 life-threatening AE resulting from the rare risk of anaphylaxis caused by the gelfoam-containing plug. After liver biopsies, transfusion was required in 2/371 (0.5%) procedures, 1 related to pre-biopsy anemia (0.25%).