[Transcatheter left gastric arterial embolization (TAE) in the management of massive gastric bleeding from gastric ulcer].

Emergency TAE was employed in 17 patients with massive hemorrhage from gastric ulcer. All patients were considered unacceptable or extremely high risk candidates for emergency surgical control of hemorrhage. In 12 patients, hemorrhage was completely controlled and their prognosis has been fair. Partial control in 4 patients were related to underlying severe coagulopathy and arterio-sclerosis. 1 case with ulcer which received a dual blood supply from left gastric artery (LGA) and small LGA originated from the splenic artery failed to stop bleeding. No major complication was noted after these procedures. Emergency TAE should be the initial treatment of choice in patients with massive gastric bleeding.