Gastric and hepatic infarction following embolization of the left gastric artery: case report

The authors report an initially successful left gastric artery embolization performed because of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding; the procedure was complicated by focal gastric and hepatic infarctions. These complications occurred in the absence of underlying factors known to predispose to ischemia. Low-grade gastric bleeding persisting after seemingly successful embolization of the left gastric artery may indicate ischemic gastritis and is an indication for endoscopy. In addition, the presence of a left hepatic artery completely replaced to the left gastric artery should alert one to the potential for hepatic necrosis.