Therapeutic embolization of the small-bowel arteries

Two patients with small-bowel arteriovenous malformations and four patients with severe small-bowel hemorrhage were successfully treated with selective embolization of jejunal or ileal arteries. No infarction of the embolized area was observed. Severe small-bowel bleeding frequently occurs in debilitated patients with multisystem failure. In these circumstances, the use of embolization is justified because of the need for fast and effective hemostasis if a trial of vasoconstrictor infusion has been ineffective or is contraindicated.