Small bowel hemorrhage: angiographic localization and intervention

Hemobilia and other complications caused by percutaneous ultrasound-guided liver biopsy

Hemobilia accounts for approximately 3% of all major percutaneous liver biopsy complications, and rarely results from arterioportal fistula. We report a patient who suffered from four complications over 11 d after ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy: hemobilia, acute pancreatitis, acute cholecystitis, and multiple stomach ulcers. Digital subtraction angiography was done after consultation with doctors, and showed obvious arteriovenous fistula of the right liver. The hepatic artery was selected and embolized by spring orbs. The active bleeding was stopped after embolization of the hepatic artery. The patient was discharged home on day 12 after embolization and remained well.

Capsule endoscopy versus computed tomographic or standard angiography for the diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Capsule endoscopy (CE) is superior to push enteroscopy and small bowel barium radiography in detecting the source of obscure GI bleeding. We now compared whether CE has a superior diagnostic yield than CT angiography (CTA) or standard mesenteric angiography (ANGIO) in patients with obscure GI bleeding.

METHODS

From June 2004 to October 2005, consecutive patients admitted for OGIB underwent both CTA and ANGIO, followed by CE, performed blindly by independent examiners within the next 7 days. The primary end point of the study was the diagnostic yield for each technique, defined as the frequency of detection of lesions with a high probability of bleeding.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients (16 men and 12 women, mean age 74 +/- 2 yr) with OGIB (overt bleeding in 20 cases and chronic occult in 8) were prospectively evaluated. CTA or standard angiography could be performed in 25 of 28 patients (applicability 86%), because of contrast allergy (1 patient) and chronic renal failure (2 patients). A source of bleeding was detected by CE in a greater proportion of patients, 72% (18 of 25, 95% CI 50.6-87.9%), than CTA, 24% (6 of 25, 95% CI 9.4-45.1%, P= 0.005 vs CE), or ANGIO, 56% (14 of 25, 95% CI 34.9-75.6%, P= NS). Similarly, CE was able to diagnose 100% of patients diagnosed by CTA and 86% of patients diagnosed by ANGIO. Moreover, CE was positive in 12 of 19 (63%) negative cases on CTA and in 6 of 11 (55%) negative cases on ANGIO. As a result of the CE findings, therapeutic intervention was undertaken in 9 of 19 (47%) patients with positive results.

CONCLUSION

CE detects more lesions than CTA or standard mesenteric angiography in patients with obscure GI bleeding and has a therapeutic impact in almost half of the patients with positive findings.

Embolization for Treatment of Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Secondary to Recurrent Renal Cell Carcinoma

Massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage secondary to metastatic renal cell carcinoma involving the jejunum is rare but has been previously described in the medical literature. Treatment options for metastatic renal cell carcinoma are limited, but transcatheter arterial embolization can be performed to control gastrointestinal hemorrhage either alone or prior to surgical resection. We describe a case of successful transcatheter arterial embolization for control of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage secondary to locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma invading the jejunum and review the literature. Arteriography provided both the diagnosis of recurrent disease and the means of therapy.

AGA technical review on the evaluation and management of occult and obscure gastrointestinal bleeding

This literature review and the recommendations therein were prepared for the American Gastroenterological Association Clinical Practice and Practice Economics committee. The paper was approved by the committee on May 16, 1999, and by the AGA governing board on July 18, 1999.

Embolization of superior mesenteric artery branches in dogs. Ischemic bowel changes depend on location of vessel occlusion and embolic materials

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the degree of ischemic changes of the small intestine after arterial embolization of proximal or distal arteries with Gelfoam particles and coils in dogs.

METHODS

Superselective arterial embolization in 18 dogs was performed using a coaxial catheter system. Gelfoam occlusion of the proximal level of ileal or jejunal arteries was performed in four dogs (group A). Gelfoam occlusion of the distal level was performed in four dogs (group B). Coil occlusion of the proximal level was performed in five dogs (group C). Coil occlusion of the distal level was performed in five dogs (group D). All 18 dogs were killed 1 day after the procedure. Gross and microscopic findings were evaluated.

RESULTS

The embolizations were successful in all dogs. In group B, significant mucosal destruction, lymphocyte proliferation of the submucosa and mucosa, and diffuse swelling in all layers of the intestine were found in all four dogs. Three revealed diffuse ischemic changes and one showed focal ischemic changes. In groups A and C, all the layers of the intestine were intact and did not show any ischemic changes. In group D, one dog showed erosion of a small portion of mucosa and lymphocytic infiltration. The other dogs showed nonspecific findings in all layers of the intestine.

CONCLUSIONS

Proximal embolization with Gelfoam and coils as well as distal embolization with coils did not cause ischemia. However, ischemic changes in the intestinal wall could be observed after distal embolization with Gelfoam.

Intestinal leiomyomas: angiographic imaging

A retrospective angiographic study was done on 19 patients with solitary leiomyomas of the small bowel, one patient with multiple leiomyomas, and two patients with leiomyosarcomas. All patients had gastrointestinal bleeding but no small bowel obstruction. Selective mesenteric angiography was the main diagnostic procedure. Tumoral hypervascularity and dense capillary staining within a well-circumscribed mass were present in all patients. Prominent and irregular feeding arteries were seen in 19 cases and prominent draining veins in 20. Contrast extravasation indicating the site of active bleeding was shown in two patients.

Emergent embolotherapy of small intestine hemorrhage

The efficacy of emergent embolotherapy was evaluated in six patients suffering hemorrhage from the small intestine. Hemorrhage was from the jejunum in four patients, from the ileum in one, and from Meckel's diverticulum in one. Superselective embolization of the arcade of the small intestine artery branch was performed in all patients with a coaxial catheter. Embolic materials used were Gelfoam particles alone or Gelfoam particles plus coils in earlier cases and microcoils in recent cases. Complete hemostasis was immediately achieved in all patients, but one patient died of disseminated intravascular coagulation. After stabilization of the patient's condition by hemostasis, elective surgery was performed on three patients suffering small intestine ulcer. Histopathologically, no bowel infarction was noted but mild mucosal inflammation with submucosal edema was found in the jejunum of two patients. We recommend embolization for life-threatening small intestine hemorrhage, preferentially in situations where the blood vessel involved can be super-selectively occluded at the nearest level of the arcade of the vasa recta, lest the vasa recta should be occluded.