Pancreatic and peripancreatic vessels: embolization for control of bleeding in pancreatitis.
Bleeding associated with pancreatitis has a high mortality rate. Angiographic demonstration of uncontrollable bleeding or large pseudoaneurysms is an indication for emergency surgery. We have encountered a group of patients with obvious clinical gastrointestinal hemorrhage out of proportion to angiographic findings. Vessel abnormalities included areas of encasement, small pseudoaneurysms, and occasional extravasation without a clearly defined source. With the high risk of mortality in such patients, embolization is a viable method of therapy. Three patients are described who had different angiographic presentations and in whom hemorrhage was safely controlled with embolic therapy using nonpermanent occlusive materials.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000098:blood supply*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed