Transarterial Embolization of Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Abstract

Transarterial embolization (TAE) is a minimally invasive treatment method developed alternative to surgery for acute gastrointestinal bleeding (AGIB). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and outcome of TAE in AGIB patients. The data of 30 patients who underwent TAE with complaint of AGIB between January 2007- May 2020 was collected retrospectively. The etiology of hemorrhage, localization and type of lesion, embolizing agent used, and postprocedural complications were recorded. Lesions were classified as pseudoaneurysm (PA), extravasation, pathological tumor vascularity and vasospasm. A total of 22 patients, 5 females, were included in the study. The most common underlying cause was tumors (n=15, 50%). The most common lesion detected on angiograms was pathological tumor vascularity. Embolizing agents used were N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate in five patients, coils in three patients, polyvinyl alcohol particles in six patients and microsphere in seven patients. The technical success rate was 90.9%, and two patients developed rebleeding in the early postprocedural period. TAE is a safe, effective and minimally invasive method in emergency treatment of patients with AGIB. © 2021 Ondokuz Mayis Universitesi. All rights reserved.