Bladder wall and surrounding tissue necrosis following bilateral superselective embolization of internal iliac artery branches due to uncontrollable haematuria related to bladder tumor: case report

BACKGROUND: Case of urinary bladder wall and surrounding tissue necrosis following bilateral superselective embolization of internal iliac artery branches due to unmanageable haematuria associated with aggressive bladder tumor. CASE: We achieved the bleeding control, but patient demonstrated severe postembolization syndrome at follow-up (low abdominal pain, arterial hypertension, hyperthermia). Severe bladder tissue and surrounding neoplastic tissue necrosis developed several days after procedure. Patient died from multiple organ dysfunction syndrome due to longstanding peritonitis. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor ischemia and bladder wall and surrounding tissue necrosis, are possible serious complications ofembolization using calibrated microspheres. These complications can be very dangerous, and even fatal.