Therapeutic angiographic embolization

The accepted term “Interventional radiology” (Wallace, 1976) is imprecise. It refers here to an increasing number of clinical situations where the diagnostic radiologist can offer, by means of the angiographic catheter, obliterative treatment that is sometimes temporary, but may be permanent. “Therapeutic angiographic embolization” is more appropriate. Sites embolized and materials used read like a supermarket shopping list for a long week-end. Gastrointestinal haemorrhage in the poor risk surgical patient heads the list of sites. The left gastric or the gastroduodenal arteries can be obliterated to treat bleeding gastric or duodenal ulcers respectively. Once endoscopy has established the site of bleeding in the gut, embolization should be considered if the intravenous or intra-arterial vasoconstrictor therapy fails.