Cardiovascular collapse and disseminated intravascular coagulation as complications of ethanol embolization of arteriovenous malformations in the upper lip: case report and literature review.

Ethanol has been used for embolization of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) for 3 decades. Cardiovascular collapse (CVC), although a rare complication, has been reported and occurs immediately to a few hours after ethanol embolization. The present report describes a case of CVC and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) after ethanol embolotherapy in a patient with upper lip AVMs. Although resuscitated from asystole, the patient died of DIC 2 days later despite intensive care treatment.