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PURPOSE: To assess the technical feasibility, safety, and clinical success rate of trans-arterial embolization (TAE) as an emergency treatment for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients who received urgent TAE due to active LGIB at five academic centers in Germany were retrospectively analyzed. LGIB was confirmed and localized using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) or endoscopy. Outcome parameters including technical and clinical success rates as well as ischemia-related adverse events were analyzed. Furthermore, treatment-related variables that may affect technical and clinical success were analyzed using a regression model. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-one patients were included. TAE was performed in 91% (128/141) of patients. In 81% (114/141) of patients, TAE was performed due to active bleeding visible at angiography, the remaining 10% (14/141) underwent empiric embolization based on pre-interventional imaging. In 9% (13/141) of patients, no TAE was performed. Microcoils were the most used embolic 48.5% (62/128), followed by glue 23.5% (30/128) and Microparticles (8%; 10/128). In the case of bleeding visible in angiography, the technical success rate was 100% (114/114); the clinical success rate was 93.6% (120/128). Severe ischemia-related adverse events necessitating bowel surgery occurred in 14% (18/128) of all patients after embolization. Thirty-day mortality was 14% (21/141). Regression analysis revealed no significant correlations but a statistical trend toward a higher incidence of bowel resection when glue was used (p = 0.090) and toward a higher 30-day mortality when an unselective embolization was performed (p = 0.057). CONCLUSION: TAE for LGIB has a high technical and clinical success rate. Severe ischemia-related adverse events necessitating bowel surgery occurred in 14% of patients without identifying a significant correlation to the embolization technique or an embolic. KEY POINTS: Question Is trans-arterial embolization (TAE) viable as an emergency treatment for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB)? Findings TAE demonstrated a 100% technical and 93.6% clinical success rate in treating acute LGIB, with severe ischemia-related adverse events occurring in 14% of patients. Clinical relevance TAE is highly effective and has an acceptable complication rate in treating lower gastrointestinal bleeding, emphasizing the need for a direct head-to-head comparison between endovascular and endoscopic therapy.
Hosse et al. (Wed,) studied this question.