Angiographic Embolization Might Work for Recurrent Ulcer Bleeding

Bleeding continues or recurs in a small percentage of patients treated for bleeding peptic ulcers. In most cases, these patients receive surgery for definitive therapy; however, angiographic embolization has been suggested as an alternative.

To compare outcomes of surgery versus angiography with embolization, investigators in Hong Kong reviewed data from a gastrointestinal bleeding registry on 3271 patients admitted for bleeding peptic ulcers. Among those who required endoscopic hemostasis, the researchers identified 88 patients for whom that therapy was unsuccessful or rebleeding occurred after a first successful attempt. Of these patients, 32 were referred for angiography and embolization, and 56 were treated with surgery.

Embolization was …