What is a GAE procedure?

Embolization is when material called embolic agent is placed into a blood vessel to block blood flow to a certain area through a catheter. In GAE procedures, it is used to block blood flow to neo-vessels that cause pain and inflammation when you have arthritis.

The Procedure

• Your doctor will instruct you on how to prepare for the procedure i.e. any changes to medication and if fasting is necessary.
• You will be given a local anaesthetic, which numbs the area. You might also get a mild sedative to help you relax, but you will be awake for the duration of the procedure.
• The doctor will make a small hole in your leg and insert a long, thin tube called a catheter.
• Using x-ray equipment (fluoroscopy), the doctor will guide the catheter to the blood vessels in your knee.
• The doctor will also use contrast dye that shows up on x-rays to see the vessels better.
• Through the catheter, they will deliver tiny particles into the vessels that are causing the inflammation. these particles block the blood flow, which kills the neo vessels, reducing inflammation and pain.

After the Procedure

• In most instances you can go home the same day, an overnight hospital stay is not required.
• You may feel some pain or warmth when the dye is injected.
• You the treatment sight might be a sore and you may feel tired afterward.

Benefits

• This treatment is less invasive than surgery and requires less recovery time.
• Having a GAE procedure keeps all other future treatment options available.
• In all clinical trials to date, the majority of patients experienced significant pain reduction that lasts more than 6 months
• With resorbable beads there is nothing left behind in your knee

 

14 out of the 15 patients in our previous clinical trial felt less knee pain one month after the procedure, with an average improvement of 74.75%, showing on the pain scale as a reduction from 7.8 to 1.4. The study also found there were significant improvements in pain, stiffness and physical function, with an average improvement of 80.29%, 77.92% and 78.81% respectively. The patient that did not experience pain relief still had an improvement of 61.54% in their overall condition. 14 out of 15 patients also had a reduction in their pain medication in comparison to before the procedure.