Variceal and Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Refractory to Endoscopic Management: Indications and Role of Interventional Radiology

Abstract

For over 60 years, diagnostic and interventional radiology have been heavily involved in the evaluation and treatment of patients presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding. For patients who present with upper GI bleeding and have a contraindication to endoscopy or have an unsuccessful attempt at endoscopy for identifying or controlling the bleeding, interventional radiology is often consulted for evaluation and consideration of catheter-based intervention.

Keywords: Embolization; Empirical embolization; Hemobilia; Hemosuccus pancreaticus; Interventional radiology; Prophylactic embolization; Upper GI bleeding; Variceal bleeding.