Treatment of Kasabach-Merritt syndrome in three infants by percutaneous selective digital subtraction angiography combined with transarterial hardened embolization

Abstract

Objective To develop a new treament strategy for Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.Methods Three infants who were diagnosed with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome and suffered from thrombocytopenia as well as bleeding and clotting disorders were treated with percutaneous selective digital subtraction angiography combined with transarterial hardened embolization under general anesthesia.Sclerosing agents included bleomycin A5 (4.0 mg),iodized oil (1.5 ml),dexamethasone (2.5 mg) and iopamidol (3 ml).Polyvinyl alcohol mixed with iopamidol (at a volume fraction of 0.5) served as the embolic material.Results All the three patients were successfully treated by the minimally invasive surgery.The amount of blood platelet returned to normal within 24 hours after the operation.On the fourth day,all the patients were discharged from hospital with the restoration of coagulation function.Revisits at one month and three months after the operation showed that hemangiomas markedly shrank and even subsided,and blood platelet count was maintained within normal range.Conclusions Percutaneous selective digital subtraction angiography combined with transarterial hardened embolization can result in a recovery of blood platelet count and shrinkage of hemangioma,and may serve as a minimally invasive treatment option for Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.