Gastrointestinal Bleeding Successfully Treated Using Interventional Radiology

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is an emergency medical condition that leads to hemorrhagic shock or circulatory instability if left untreated. A mainstay for treating GI bleeding is endoscopic therapy; more than 90% of GI bleeding can be staunched by endoscopic hemostasis. However , patients with unstable hemodynamics or GI bleeding that cannot be controlled by endoscopy require transcatheter embolization or surgical intervention. The development of several devices and emboliza-tion agents that are used in interventional radiology (IVR) leads to safe and accessible treatment via IVR. If endoscopic treatment fails, IVR is the second strategy. Herein, we report cases of GI bleeding that were successfully treated by IVR and discuss the therapeutic strategy.