Per catheter control of haemorrhage from the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries.

The relevant findings in 11 cases of per catheter control of haemorrhage from different sites in the large and small bowel are presented together with a description of the techniques and some of the possible complications of vasopressin infusion and gelfoam embolisation. In six of these cases vasopressin infusion was sus achieved by embolisation, three following the failure of vasopressin therapy. In one case embolisation of the ileo-colic artery produced a caecal infarct. Important differences in the vascular supply to the large and small bowel and their practical significance in embolisation are discussed.