The stainless steel coil has been utilized for permanent intravascular occlusion of the proximal portion of the renal, hepatic, splenic, and internal iliac vessels. This therapeutic approach has been successful in the management of renal arteriovenous fistulas, renal carcinomas, neoplasms of the liver, giant cell tumors of the sacrum, and in hypersplenism. The techniques involved and clinical uses are discussed.