Transcatheter embolization for acute lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage

PURPOSE: The authors review their experience using transcatheter embolization in the treatment of acute lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage, MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on 17 patients who underwent superselective transcatheter embolization for an acute lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. All 17 patients were followed clinically 4 days to 60 months (mean, 18.5 months) after embolization for the presence of ischemia or for recurrent bleeding. In addition, 12 of 17 patients were examined 1 day to 12 months (mean, 38.8 months) after embolization by means of colonoscopy or by pathologic review. RESULTS: Transcatheter embolization achieved immediate hemostasis in 15 of 17 patients (88%) and was the definitive treatment in 76%. The other two patients underwent successful surgical resections after incomplete hemostasis of cecal lesions. Two patients of the 15, with initially successful embolizations, had recurrent hemorrhage within 30 days; both underwent further embolization with one failure. No intestinal infarction or stricture developed in the 15 patients who underwent successful embolization, CONCLUSIONS: The authors' experience supports the role of transcatheter embolization as a primary means of therapy for patients with an acute lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Their data further supports growing evidence that superselective embolization may be most efficacious in reducing complication rates.