Duodenal infarction after therapeutic Gelfoam embolization of a bleeding duodenal ulcer

A patient is presented who sustained a duodenal infarction after therapeutic Gelfoam embolization of the gastroduodenal artery for hemorrhage from a duodenal ulcer. Factors that may have contributed to this previously unreported complication included underlying vascular disease, recent surgery, and an associated arteritis possibly related to the Gelfoam. Although ischemic injury of the duodenum has been considered unlikely because of its dual vascular supply, our case suggests that the technique of therapeutic embolization may carry an increased risk in patients with underlying vascular disease or previous surgery within the area of the vascular bed to be embolized.