Abstract
Robotic endovascular technology is an emerging concept, and is being developed to
allow more precise navigation of anatomy in challenging endovascular cases. The Magellan
Endovascular System allows either direct or remote steerability of a 2-point articulating
robotic platform with the ability to place a conventional microcatheter through the
catheter tip. Such flexibility may help to reach an otherwise difficult anatomic location,
especially in variant anatomy. To date, this platform has been shown to be technically
successful in a small number of different settings. This case series shows another
potential platform for such technology and explores the technical use and overall
safety in conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE). The study retrospectively
assessed 6 patients undergoing selective cTACE. Treatments were performed in a single
center by two experienced interventional radiologists. Fluoroscopy time, radiation
dose, anatomic target, and adverse events were logged. In spite of a longer than expected
average fluoroscopy time, which can be expected for a first-generation technology,
the average radiation dose was comparable to literature and technical success was
able to be shown in all 6 patients with no adverse events. This technology has wide
scope for future use and once overcoming a learning curve, may allow us to avoid repeat
procedure attempts thus reducing fluoroscopy time and leading to earlier successful
treatment. Providing a platform of interest and usability in the interventional radiology
world may also lead to further development of smaller, cheaper, and more widely-accessible
devices.
Keywords TACE - chemoembolization - magellan - robot - robotic - endovascular - novel
