Angiographic description of the superior rectal artery and its anatomical variations in patients undergoing embolization of the superior rectal arteries in hemorrhoidal disease treatment

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe angiographic findings of the superior rectal artery, its branches, and anatomical variations in the hemorrhoidal plexus in patients undergoing rectal artery embolization for hemorrhoidal disease treatment. Methods: Angiographic findings of 15 patients were obtained from a single-center, prospective clinical study that compared superior rectal artery embolization with the Ferguson technique for hemorrhoidal disease between July 2018 and March 2020. Results: Angiography of the superior rectal artery showed that in seven patients (46.8%), its branches were divided into four main branches (two left and two right), while in four patients (26.6%), the branches divided into one right and two left branches. The most uncommon variation observed in three cases (20%) was the branches divided into two branches to the right and one to the left; no further subdivision into the main branches was observed in one case (6.6%). Conclusion: Four patterns were observed in the angiographic anatomy of the superior rectal arteries. Knowledge of the angiographic anatomy of this region and its variations is essential to improve the effectiveness of superior rectal artery embolization. Registry of Clinical Trials: NCT03402282

Keywords

• Hemorrhoids
• Embolization, therapeutic
• Anatomic variation
• Angiography
• Mesenteric artery, inferior