Therapeutic embolization for intractable chronic bleeding.

Intractable, chronic vaginal and/or vesicle bleeding complicating pelvic cancers in five women was treated by transcatheter embolization of the hypogastric artery or its branches. Bleeding was presumed to be from hypervascular granulation tissue formed in response to irradiation in two patients and from tumor tissue in three. The embolic materials were Gelfoam and Oxycel reinforced autologous clots. Bleeding was stopped or reduced in volume by at least 90% in each patient. This form of therapy was useful even though bleeding site was not demonstrated angiographically.