Abstract Background Most bleeding ulcers are controlled endoscopically. Still, some patients have persistent or recurrent bleeding needing surgery or gastroduodenal artery transarterial angioembolization (GDA-TAE). The objective of this study was to evaluate our experience with GDA-TAE over eleven years. Mainly, we wished to assess the rate of failure of GDA-TAE and possible risk factors for failure. Methods This was a retrospective, single-center study of patients treated with GDA-TAE between January 2010 and December 2020. Patients were stratified according to whether GDA-TAE succeeded or not in arresting the bleeding. We evaluated differences between the two groups for demographic data (sex, age), comorbidities, hemodynamic indices (initial haemoglobin, shock index), number of red blood cell units transfused, and endoscopic findings. Results Fifty patients with a median age of 73.5 (IQR 62, 78) who underwent GDA-TAE following endoscopic failure were identified. GDA-TAE was successful in arresting the bleeding in 38 (76%). The only risk factor for failure was Shock Index Class III and IV (58.3% versus 21.1%; P = 0.027). Overall, 12 patients died. No differences in mortality were noted between those in whom GDA-TAE successfully arrested the bleeding and those in whom GDA-TAE failed (25% versus 23.7%; P = 1.0). Severe comorbidities accounted for most of the mortality observed. Conclusion GDA-TAE was successful in arresting bleeding in most of the patients. Still, the most influential factor determining mortality was comorbidities.
Fiesal et al. (Thu,) studied this question.