Bleeding Duodenal Ulcer Control

Previous attempts to control bleeding duodenal ulcers by intra-arterial infusion of vasoconstrictors have been largely ineffective. We have employed embolization of autologous blood clot to successfully control hemorrhage in a duodenal ulcer patient who was a poor surgical risk and whose hemorrhage was unresponsive to vasopressin administered intra-arterially. At present it is suggested that this form of therapy be utilized in patients with large-vessel bleeding, who are poor surgical risks and whose bleeding is unresponsive to intra-arterially given vasoconstrictors. (JAMA229:546-548, 1974)