Embolization

Embolization is a minimally invasive, image guided treatment that involves injecting a special material or a device into a blood vessel in order to block or close it. It can be used to:

• stop or prevent serious bleeding
• cut off the flow of blood to a tumor
• reduce blood flow to an arteriovenous malformation

How Boston Children's Hospital approaches embolization

Embolization is performed by interventional and neurointerventional radiologists who are highly trained in doing this procedure on infants and children.

In addition to the interventional radiologist, your child will be treated by a team of anesthesiologists, nurse practitioners, nurses and technologists who specialize in caring for children who have undergone interventional radiology procedures and treatments.

We perform embolizations in the interventional radiology suite on the second floor of the hospital, which features three procedure rooms equipped with the latest imaging technology, a recovery area for patients who have received sedation or anesthesia and examining rooms for outpatient visits.