Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage: The Interventional Radiologist's Perspective

Abstract

Nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is one of the most common diseases of the GI tract and represents a high percentage of emergency room admissions. Eighty percent to 90% of upper GI bleeds are nonvariceal, with a mortality of 1 to 10% of patients. Selective embolization of the arterial source can be achieved with many therapeutic alternatives available in the interventional radiologist's arsenal, such as particles, coils, liquid emboli, selectively infused vasoconstrictor agents, or a combination of these techniques. Up to 95% of patients can obtain initial hemostasis without angiographic intervention. However, rebleeding is common, occurring in up to 50% of patients and persistent hemorrhage has been described in 7 to 30% of patients with mortality rates up to 14%.

Keywords

gastrointestinal tract - hemorrhage - embolization - coils

Publication History

Received: 05 December 2022

Accepted: 20 June 2023

Article published online:
07 August 2023

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