Transcatheter Electrocoagulation: A Therapeutic Angiographic Technique for Vessel Occlusion

Previous work has shown that localized electrocoagulation of blood vessels using direct current applied by catheter placed electrodes is feasible. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that clot size and thrombosis of vessels are directly related to the product of the amount and duration of the current. Surgically created splenic hemorrhage was well controlled in 9 of 10 animals. The vessels remained permanently occluded after electrocoagulation in 8 of 9 animals. Pathological studies of all the vessels showed intimal damage at the sites of occlusion. These experiments indicate that clot formation may be a product of both intimal damage and platelet attraction to the positive electrode. The technique has advantages over embolization since no foreign material is injected and a localized clot is produced at the tip of the guidewire. There are certain disadvantages and further refinements must be developed to establish transcatheter electrocoagulation as a useful clinical technique for vessel occlusion.