Selective Transcatheter Embolization of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Transcatheter gastric embolization using Ivalon shavings was performed on 3 groups of dogs. The left gastric artery and splenic branches (the short gastric and left gastroepiploic arteries) were embolized in Group I, the left gastric artery in Group II and the splenic branches in Group III. Infarctions of the gastric mucosa occurred only in Group I. Ischemic ulcers developed in 3 of the 5 dogs in Group I and in 1 of the 3 dogs in Group II. Embolization can only be performed safely if particles of 0.3 mm or larger are used.