The role of metallic clips in transcatheter intravascular embolization for non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding cases receiving unmanageable endoscopic therapy: A retrospective cohort study

Introduction: This study aims to explore whether metallic clips could be a kind of localizer and guider in transcatheter arterial embolization for patients with non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding, who received an unmanageable endoscopic therapy. Methods: A total of 18 patients with non-variceal hemorrhage of the upper gastrointestinal tract, who received an unmanageable endoscopic therapy at *** Hospital of *** Province from July 2010 to December 2016, were included into this study. One or two metallic clips were placed on the margin of the bleeding point to be a mark during the endoscopic therapy. Then, all patients were immediately transferred to have an emergent upper gastrointestinal angiography. Bleeding vessels were embolized when found according to the guidance of the metallic clips. After the procedure, any changes of the patient's condition were closely observed and recorded. Results: The average transcatheter arterial embolization therapy time was 31 min, 17 patients immediately had a successful result, and the success rate of the arterial embolization therapy was 94.44%. However, the bleeding could not be stopped in one patient. This patient was transferred and underwent a surgical operation to stop the bleeding. Conclusion: Metallic clips could play an important role in accurately locating the bleeding vessel during the transcatheter arterial embolization therapy. Furthermore, it could also improve the success rate of stopping the bleeding during intravascular embolization therapy, and shorten the time of intravascular embolization therapy.