Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in patients with bleeding/rebleeding duodenal ulcers.
Material and Methods: Over a 6-year-period, 40 consecutive patients with bleeding/rebleeding after endoscopic therapy and/or surgery for duodenal ulcer were included in the study. Superselective angiographic catheterization and coil embolization were performed by the same interventional radiologist.
Results: Lasting hemostasis was achieved in 26 of 40 patients (65%). Transfusion requirement was reduced from median 14 (range 3–35) units of blood before TAE to 2 (range 0–53) units after TAE. Ten patients died, five because of continuous bleeding. No adverse effects as a result of TAE were seen.
Conclusion: TAE is an effective and safe treatment in a significant proportion of patients with bleeding duodenal/rebleeding ulcers after therapeutic endoscopy and/or surgery.
