Embolization treatment of bleeding complications in pancreatitis

Pseudoaneurysm following chronic pancreatitis is a severe complication that can lead to massive gastrointestinal bleeding. Surgical treatment means high risk for the patient. We report on two patients in whom the bleeding was managed by percutaneous transvascular embolization, a relatively non-invasive and successful method with low risk. The goal was either the definitive arrest of bleeding or stabilization of the patient to enable a surgical procedure. Embolization coils are the material most utilized for vessel occlusion. In patients with bleeding complication following pancreatitis, if sonography or computed tomography demonstrates a pseudoaneurysm, we recommend angiographic visualization and immediate subsequent embolization.