OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical value of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and interventional treatment in gastrointestinal arterial hemorrhage.

METHODSDSA data and experiences of interventional treatment of 78 cases with gastrointestinal arterial hemorrhage were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe positive rate of DSA diagnosis was 74%(58/78). Contrast media overflow direct sign was found in 33%(26/78) patients. Contrast media overflow direct sign of postoperative anastomotic stoma was found in 83%(15/18) patients. Hemorrhage causes of 15 cases were duodenal ulcer, 5 stomach ulcer, 2 gastric cancer, 1 Dieulafoy disease, 9 vascular malformation and dysplasia, 8 in anastomotic stoma bleeding after gastrointestinal operation, 10 hepatic artery blow out and bleeding after operation of liver disease, 5 Crohn disease, 6 intestinal tract diverticulum hemorrhage, 6 enteritis or ulcer and 3 polyp of small intestine, 1 midrange malignant small intestinal interstitial tumor, 2 well differentiated small intestine leiomyosarcoma, 5 colon and rectal cancer. Fifteen cases received arterial drug infusion and 36 received arterial embolization. Twenty-seven cases underwent operation after DSA and interventional treatment, whose coincidence with pathology was 78%(21/27). Technical success rate of arterial embolization was 86%(31/36) and clinical success rate was 72%(26/36). Technical success rate of arterial drug perfusion was 60%(9/15) and clinical success rate was 40%(6/15). Rebleeding rate was 16%(8/51) after intervention treatment. During follow-up for 2-36 months, 1 rebleeding patient received gastroscope treatment after embolization, but failed and died later. There were no severe complications,such as ischemic necrosis,in all the cases.

CONCLUSIONDSA is very important for the location and qualitation of gastrointestinal arterial hemorrhage. Transarterial drug infusion and embolization are safe and effective, and available to selective operation and complication handling.