Transarterial embolization for pelvic hematoma following laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: A case report and review of the literature

The present study reports a case of hemorrhage from branches of the right obturator artery following laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. On post-operative day 9, the patient complained of lower abdominal pain, and the hemoglobin and hematocrit levels had decreased. Emergency computed tomography angiography showed a large pelvic hematoma suggesting active bleeding. Transarterial embolization (TAE) was performed using microcoils. There were no post-procedure complications. At 3 months post-surgery, using computed tomography, the pelvic hematoma was shown to have been absorbed. To the best of our knowledge, TAE for a hemorrhage from the obturator artery following laparoscopic prostatectomy has not previously been described. TAE is a safe and minimally invasive treatment compared with surgical intervention, and should be considered as a treatment for post-operative arterial hemorrhage.