Radiological interventions for iatrogenic hemobilia: a single institution experience

Area of Science:

• Interventional Radiology
• Hepatobiliary Medicine
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Iatrogenic hemobilia, a rare complication of hepatobiliary interventions, presents significant management challenges.
• Hemorrhagic complications following surgical, endoscopic, or radiological procedures require effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of radiological interventions for iatrogenic hemobilia.
• To identify predictors of outcomes in patients undergoing embolization for iatrogenic hemobilia.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 53 patients with iatrogenic hemobilia treated with percutaneous or endovascular embolization.
• Patients were categorized based on prior interventions (surgical vs. non-surgical).
• Assessment of technical and clinical success, complications, recurrence, and mortality.

Main Results:

• 100% technical success and 98.1% clinical success for embolization procedures.
• Higher incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding and pseudoaneurysms in patients with prior surgery.
• Shock at presentation was the sole independent predictor of mortality (OR=25.8).

Conclusions:

• Radiological interventions offer a safe and effective management option for iatrogenic hemobilia.
• Urgent hemostatic control via radiological interventions is vital for patients presenting with shock.
• Embolization demonstrates high success rates with minimal procedure-related complications.