Effectiveness of arterial embolization in recurrent bleeding due to duodenal ulcer during postoperative cardiac surgery.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is one of the most frequent complications after cardiac surgery and endoscopic treatment (ET) is often the first-choice procedure. When it fails, surgery can be an option but has significant mortality and morbidity. We propose arterial embolization (TAE: transcatheter arterial embolization) as an alternative treatment in selected cases.