Trans-arterial embolization of malignant tumor-related gastrointestinal bleeding: technical and clinical efficacy

Background Gastrointestinal (GI) tract bleeding is a major cause of mortality among patients with GI malignancies. We aimed to assess the technical and clinical efficacy of trans-arterial embolization (TAE) as a symptomatic treatment of tumor-related GI bleeding. This study was conducted for patients with GI bleeding secondary to histopathologically proven different GI malignancies. Fourteen patients underwent trans-arterial embolization. Patients were followed up clinically for any complications or episodes of recurrent bleeding. Results Fourteen patients were included (9 males and 5 females) with mean age 55.5 years (range 42–69 years). All procedures were technically successful with post-procedural hemorrhage control and no immediate complication. The 30-day post-procedural clinical success rate was 78.4%. Three repeated clinically successful TAE sessions were done for recurrent bleeding. The median post-procedural follow-up duration was 241 days. The 30-day mortality rate was 7.1%, while the overall mortality rate was 35.7%. Conclusion Trans-arterial embolization of tumor-related GI bleeding controlled hemorrhage with acceptable clinical success rate and without complication in this small group of patients.