RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of preventive endovascular hemostasis in patients with high risk of recurrent bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed treatment outcomes in 158 patients with ulcerative gastroduodenal bleeding and high risk of recurrence (≥17 scores), Forrest 1-2 A/B and mortality (SAPS II score ≥30). Endovascular embolization of the left gastric or gastroduodenal artery was performed to prevent recurrent bleeding. RESULTS: Endovascular hemostasis was technically successful in 94.4% of cases (153 patients). Embolization could not be performed due to technical reasons in 5 patients. One patient developed retroperitoneal hematoma as a complication after transcatheter angiography and embolization that required surgical intervention. Recurrent bleeding after technically successful embolization occurred in 11 (7%) patients. The PVA microemboli and spirals were used for embolization of the left gastric and gastroduodenal arteries, respectively. Additional PVA microemboli were also used in gastroduodenal artery in some cases. Twenty-six (16.5%) patients died. CONCLUSION: Endovascular hemostasis in patients with severe comorbidities (SAPS II score ≥30) and high risk of recurrent bleeding (≥17 scores) reduced the incidence of recurrent bleeding to 6.96% and mortality to 17%.