Pyloroduodenal bleeding and intraarterial vasopressin: clinical results.

Intraarterial vasopressin infusions were given to 46 patients with pyloroduodenal hemorrhage. Hemorrhage was angiographically and clinically controlled in 15 patients, with recurrent bleeding in five. Bleeding was not controlled in 31 patients; seven of these underwent Gelfoam embolization, with bleeding controlled in three. It is concluded that intraarterial vasopressin infusions are not as effective in controlling pyloroduodenal hemorrhage as in other areas of the gastrointestinal tract.