Endovascular Management of Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding (original) (raw)

Recent advances in endovascular techniques for management of acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding

World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, 2011

Over the past two decades, transcatheter arterial embolization has become the first-line therapy for the management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding that is refractory to endoscopic hemostasis. Advances in catheter-based techniques and newer embolic agents, as well as recognition of the effectiveness of minimally invasive treatment options, have expanded the role of interventional radiology in the management of hemorrhage for a variety of indications, such as peptic ulcer bleeding, malignant disease, hemorrhagic Dieulafoy lesions and iatrogenic or trauma bleeding. Transcatheter interventions include the following: selective embolization of the feeding artery, sandwich coil occlusion of the gastroduodenal artery, blind or empiric embolization of the supposed bleeding vessel based on endoscopic findings and coil pseudoaneurysm or aneurysm embolization by three-dimensional sac packing with preservation of the parent artery. Transcatheter embolization is a fast, safe and effective, minimally invasive alternative to surgery when endoscopic treatment fails to control bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract. This article reviews the various transcatheter endovascular techniques and devices that are used in a variety of clinical scenarios for the management of hemorrhagic gastrointestinal emergencies.

Role of Transcatheter Arterial Embolization in Acute Refractory Non-variceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Not Controlled by Endoscopy: A Single-Center Experience and a Literature Review

Cureus

Introduction Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a medical emergency and a common cause of hospital admissions worldwide. It has traditionally been treated with resuscitation and endoscopic intervention as the first-line therapy. In this study, we assessed the adjunctive role of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in patients with uncontrolled UGIB after an endoscopic intervention. Material and methods A retrospective chart review of patients requiring TAE of UGIB which was not controlled by endoscopic intervention in BronxCare Health System from 2018 to 2021 was done. Patients who were more than 18 years of age and required TAE during the time period of the study were included in the study. Patients' charts were reviewed for patients' demographics, comorbidities, hospital course, imaging findings, esophagogastroduodenoscopy findings and intervention, and interventional radiology intervention and clinical outcome. Results A total of 10 patients were included in the study. A majority of the patients were male. Transcatheter atrial embolization was successful in all the 10 patients. Coils were used in seven patients while particulate polyvinyl alcohol 500 micron particle was used in two patients and vascular plug was used in two patients. Out of the 10 patients, four expired during the hospital course. None of the patients died secondary to UGIB. Three of the patients expired due to severe sepsis with septic shock secondary to pneumonia while one patient died because of respiratory failure due to lung collapse secondary to endobronchial lesion. Conclusion Refractory acute UGIB is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. TAE is a minimally invasive measure that should be considered early in the treatment of UGIB which is refractory to conventional endoscopic management. Our case highlights the importance of TAE in a patient with refractory UGIB after endoscopic intervention.

Embolization for acute nonvariceal bleeding of upper and lower gastrointestinal tract: a systematic review

CVIR Endovascular, 2023

Background Acute non-variceal gastrointestinal bleedings (GIBs) are pathological conditions associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Embolization without angiographic evidence of contrast media extravasation is proposed as an effective procedure in patients with clinical and/or laboratory signs of bleeding. The purpose of this systematic review is to define common clinical practice and clinical and technical outcomes of blind and preventive embolization for upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Main body Through the PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar database, an extensive search was performed in the fields of empiric and preventive embolization for the treatment of upper and lower gastrointestinal bleedings (UGIB and LGIB). Inclusion criteria were: articles in English for which it has been possible to access the entire content; adults patients treated with empiric or blind transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for UGIB and/or LGIB. Only studies that analysed clinical and technical success rate of blind and empiric TAE for UGIB and/or LGIB were considered for our research. Exclusion criteria were: recurrent articles from the same authors, articles written in other languages, those in which the entire content could not be accessed and that articles were not consistent to the purposes of our research. We collected pooled data on 1019 patients from 32 separate articles selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. 22 studies focused on UGIB (total 773 patients), one articles focused on LGIB (total 6 patients) and 9 studies enrolled patients with both UGIB and LGIB (total 240 patients). Technical success rate varied from 62% to 100%, with a mean value of 97.7%; clinical success rate varied from 51% to 100% with a mean value of 80%. The total number of complications was 57 events out of 1019 procedures analysed. Conclusion TAE is an effective procedure in the treatment of UGIB patients in which angiography does not demonstrate direct sign of ongoing bleeding. The attitude in the treatment of LGIBs must be more prudent in relation to poor vascular anastomoses and the high risk of intestinal ischemia. Blind and preventive procedures cumulatively present a relatively low risk of complications, compared to a relatively high technical and clinical success.

Embolization of Acute Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Resistant to Endoscopic Treatment: Results and Predictors of Recurrent Bleeding

CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology, 2010

Acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal (UGI) hemorrhage is a frequent complication associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The most common cause of UGI bleeding is peptic ulcer disease, but the differential diagnosis is diverse and includes tumors; ischemia; gastritis; arteriovenous malformations, such as Dieulafoy lesions; Mallory-Weiss tears; trauma; and iatrogenic causes. Aggressive treatment with early endoscopic hemostasis is essential for a favorable outcome. However, severe bleeding despite conservative medical treatment or endoscopic intervention occurs in 5-10% of patients, requiring surgery or transcatheter arterial embolization. Surgical intervention is usually an expeditious and gratifying endeavor, but it can be associated with high operative mortality rates. Endovascular management using superselective catheterization of the culprit vessel, « sandwich» occlusion, or blind embolization has emerged as an alternative to emergent operative intervention for high-risk patients and is now considered the first-line therapy for massive UGI bleeding refractory to endoscopic treatment. Indeed, many published studies have confirmed the feasibility of this approach and its high technical and clinical success rates, which range from 69 to 100% and from 63 to 97%, respectively, even if the choice of the best embolic agent among coils, cyanaocrylate glue, gelatin sponge, or calibrated particles remains a matter of debate. However, factors influencing clinical outcome, especially predictors of early rebleeding, are poorly understood, and few studies have addressed this issue. This review of the literature will attempt to define the role of embolotherapy for acute nonvariceal UGI hemorrhage that fails to respond to endoscopic hemostasis and to summarize data on factors predicting angiographic and embolization failure.

Short- and long-term results of transcatheter embolization for massive arterial hemorrhage from gastroduodenal ulcers not controlled by endoscopic hemostasis

Canadian journal of gastroenterology = Journal canadien de gastroenterologie, 2009

Severe bleeding from gastrointestinal ulcers is a life-threatening event that is difficult to manage when endoscopic treatment fails. Transcatheter embolization has been suggested as an alternative treatment in this situation. The present study reports on the efficacy and long-term outcomes of transcatheter embolization after failed endoscopic treatments were assessed in high operative- risk patients. A retrospective review of 60 consecutive emergency embolization procedures in hemodynamically unstable patients (41 men, 19 women; mean [+/-SD] age 69.4+/-15 years) was conducted. Patients were referred for selective angiography between 1999 and 2008 after failed endoscopic treatment of massive bleeding from gastrointestinal ulcers. Mean follow-up was 22 months. Embolization was feasible and successful in 57 patients. Sandwich coiling of the gastroduodenal artery was used in 34 patients, and superselective occlusion of the terminal feeding artery (with glue, coils or gelatin particles)...

Management of Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Annals of Internal Medicine, 2010

Recent consensus suggests that nasogastric or orogastric lavage is not helpful in patients with UGIB for diagnosis, prog-Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a critical condition that demands a quick and effective medical management. Non-variceal UGIB, especially peptic ulcer bleeding is the most significant cause. Appropriate assessment and treatment have a major influence on the prognosis of patients with UGIB. Initial fluids resuscitation and/or transfusion of red blood cells are necessary in patients with clinical evidence of intravascular volume depletion. Endoscopy is essential for diagnosis and treatment of UGIB, and should be provided within 24 hours after presentation of UGIB. Pre-endoscopic use of intravenous proton pump inhibitor (PPI) can downstage endoscopic signs of hemorrhage. Post-endoscopic use of high-dose intravenous PPI can reduce the risk of rebleeding and further interventions such as repeated endoscopy and surgery. Eradication of Helicobacter pylori and withdrawal of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended to prevent recurrent bleeding.

A comparison of the results of arterial embolization for bleeding and non-bleeding gastroduodenal ulcers

Acta Radiologica, 2011

Background: Although some authors have advocated the practice of arterial embolization for angiographically negative acute hemorrhage from gastroduodenal ulcers, this technique remains controversial. Purpose: To compare the results of arterial embolization for bleeding (BU) and non-bleeding (NBU) gastroduodenal ulcers. Material and methods: Transcatheter embolization was performed in 57 patients (39 men, 18 women, mean age 69.8 years) who experienced acute bleeding from gastroduodenal ulcers. At the time of embolization active contrast extravasation was seen in 36 of 57 patients, while in the remaining 21 patients embolization was based on endoscopic findings. Patient demographics, clinical success, need for re-intervention secondary to re-bleeding, and 30-day complication and mortality rates were reviewed and compared between the two groups by using statistical analyses. Results: In the BU group, the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) was embolized in 31 patients (86.1%), the left gastric artery (LGA) in three patients (8.3%), and the left gastroepiploic artery (LGEA) in two patients (5.6%). In the NBU group, the GDA was embolized in 18 patients (85.7%), and the LGA in three patients (14.3%). Clinical success (61.9 vs. 75.0%, P ¼ 0.30), need for re-intervention (38.1 vs. 27.8%, P ¼ 0.42), and 30-day complication (9.5 vs. 5.6%, P ¼ 0.57), and mortality (28.6 vs. 25%, P ¼ 0.77) rates were not statistically different between the two groups. Embolization in patients in NBU group did not have impact on clinical success (OR, 0.54; 95%CI, 0.17-1.72; P ¼ 0.30). Conclusion: Arterial embolization in patients with angiographically NBU is as safe and effective as embolization in patients with BU.

Transcatheter Arterial Embolization in Acute Non-Variceal Gastrointestinal Bleedings: A Ten-Year Single-Center Experience in 91 Patients and Review of the Literature

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Objective: To report the safety and efficacy of trans-arterial embolization (TAE) for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) and lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) due to different etiologies in 91 patients for ten years. Methods: A retrospective analysis of GIB treated between January 2010 and December 2020 was performed. TAE was performed using different embolic agents (coils, particles, glue, gelatin sponge, and EVOH-based agents). Technical success, secondary technical success, clinical success, and complications were evaluated. Results: Technical success was achieved in 74/91 (81.32%) patients. Seventeen patients (18.68%) required re-intervention. Secondary technical success was achieved in all cases (100.0%). Clinical success was achieved in 81/91 patients (89.01%). No major complications were recorded; overall, minor complications occurred in 20/91 patients. Conclusions: TAE is a technically feasible and safe therapeutic option for patients with GIB from a known or blind ...

Preventive transarterial embolization in upper nonvariceal gastrointestinal bleeding

World Journal of Emergency Surgery, 2017

Background: Transarterial embolization (TAE) is a therapeutic option for patients with a high risk of recurrent bleeding after endoscopic haemostasis. The aim of our prospective study was a preliminary assessment of the safety, efficacy, and clinical outcomes following preventive TAE in patients with non-variceal acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) with a high risk of recurrent bleeding after endoscopic haemostasis. Methods: Preventive visceral angiography and TAE were performed after endoscopic haemostasis on patients with NVUGIB who were at a high risk of recurrent bleeding (PE+ group). The comparison group consisted of similar patients who only underwent endoscopic haemostasis, without preventive TAE (PE− group). The technical success of preventive TAE, the completeness of haemostasis, the incidence of rebleeding and the need for surgical intervention and the main outcomes were compared between the groups. Results: The PE+ group consisted of 25 patients, and the PE− group of 50 patients, similar in age (median age 66 vs. 63 years), gender and comorbid conditions. The ulcer size at endoscopy was not significantly different (median of 152 mm vs. 127 mm). The most frequent were Forest II type ulcers, 44% in both groups. The distribution of the Forest grade was even. The median haemoglobin on admission was 8, 2 g/dl vs. 8,7 g/dl, p = 0,482, erythrocyte count was 2,7 × 10 12 /L vs. 2,9 × 10 12 /L, p = 0,727. The shock index and Rockall scores were similar, as well as and transfusionon average, four units of packed red blood cells for the majority of patients in both groups, however, significantly more fresh frozen plasma was transfused in the PE− group, p = 0,013. The rebleeding rate was similar, while surgical treatment was needed notably more often in the PE-group, 8% vs. 35% accordingly, p = 0,012. The median ICU stay was 3 days, hospital stay-6 days vs. 9 days, p = 0.079. The overall mortality reached 20%; in the PE+ group it was 4%, not reaching a statistically significant difference. Conclusion: Preventive TAE is a feasible, safe and effective minimally invasive type of haemostasis decreasing the risk of repeated bleeding and preparing the patient for the definitive surgical intervention when indicated.