Pancreatitis is a medical condition that involves inflammation of the pancreas, which can lead to many vascular complications such as thrombus formation, vessel erosion, pseudoanuerysm formation and resultant gastointestinal bleeding. Pseudoaneurysms may form as a result of inflammation-induced weakening of blood vessels in the pancreas.
Embolization is a medical procedure that can be used to treat GI bleeding or pseudoaneurysms that develop as a result of pancreatitis. During the procedure, a catheter is inserted through a small incision in the groin and guided to the affected blood vessel under X-ray guidance. Tiny embolic agents, such as coils or liquid embolic agents, are then injected through the catheter to block blood flow to the affected vessel, stopping the bleeding and promoting healing.
Embolization is typically performed in a hospital setting using either local anesthesia or conscious sedation. It is a minimally invasive alternative to surgery and has a high success rate in stopping GI bleeding and treating pseudoaneurysms.
As with any medical procedure, there are potential risks and complications associated with embolization, such as bleeding, infection, damage to the surrounding tissue, or non target embolization of other blood vessels. The decision to undergo embolization should be made in consultation with a healthcare provider, taking into consideration factors such as the severity of the GI bleeding, the patient’s overall health, and their individual treatment goals.