Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage: The Interventional Radiologist's Perspective

Abstract

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%.