Partial splenic embolization is a new procedure in the treatment of hypersplenism in infancy. We have used embolization of the spleen as an alternative to splenectomy in a patient with critical hypersplenism. The patient was a 6 year old girl with portal hypertension. The white blood cell and platelet count returned to normal 24 hours after embolization and tre frequency of bleeding episodes was reduced. There were no splenic abscesses and no other significant complications of the treatment.