Splenic embolization as an alternative to surgical splenectomy for the restoration of blood counts suitable for effective chemotherapy in gastrointestinal malignancies (GIM).

396 Background: Chemotherapy regimens used for GIM are often notably myelosuppressive and may also engender hypersplenism. This can result in platelet (plt) and/or absolute neutrophil counts (ANC) too low for the maintenance of required dose intensity or frequency. One successful approach to this problem is surgical splenectomy but this is both morbid and invasive. An alternative strategy uses super-selective embolization of the splenic arterial tree, which is performed as an outpatient, and is far better tolerated. The true efficacy of this technique is uncertain and the optimal patients (pts) for this procedure are not well defined. Methods: Between 11/2012 and 6/2015, pts with ECOG PS 0/1 currently on active therapy for GIM in our clinics, whose plts and/or ANC were consistently below threshold values for appropriate frequency or intensity of therapy, were referred to Interventional Radiology for splenic embolization. Selective catheterization of the splenic artery was achieved via a femoral approach. ...