[Clinical Outcomes of Angiography and Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Analyses according to Bleeding Sites and Embolization Types].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The clinical outcomes of angiography and transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for acute gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) have not been completely assessed, especially according to bleeding sites. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of angiography and safety of TAE in acute GIB.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study evaluating the records of 321 patients with acute GIB who underwent angiography with or without TAE. Targeted TAE was conducted in 134 patients, in whom angiography showed bleeding sources. Prophylactic TAE was performed in 29 patients when the bleeding source was not detected but a specific vessel was strongly suspected by other examinations. The rate of technical success, clinical success, and complications were analyzed.

RESULTS

The detection rate of bleeding source via angiography was 50.8% (163/321), which was not different according to the bleeding sites. The detection rate was higher if the probable bleeding source had already been found by another investigation (59.7% vs. 35.8%, p<0.001). TAE sites were upper GIB in 67, mid GIB in 74, and lower GIB in 22. The technical success rate was 99.3% (133/134), and the clinical success rate was 63.0% (104/163). The prophylactic embolization group showed lower clinical success rate than the targeted embolization group (44.8% vs. 67.9%, p=0.06). The TAE-related complication rate was 12.9% (21/163). Ischemia and/or infarction was more common after TAE for mid and lower GIB than for upper GIB (15.6% vs. 3.0%, p=0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Angiography with or without TAE was an effective method for acute GIB. Targeted embolization should be performed if possible given that it has a higher clinical success rate.