Haemorrhage & Trauma Embolization
When bleeding cannot be controlled endoscopically or by pressure, a catheter can find the bleeding artery and seal it from the inside, usually within the same hour. This is one of the most time-critical things interventional radiology does, and it frequently avoids emergency open surgery in a patient who is already unstable.
Dr. Mohamed El Ghobashy · Consultant Interventional Radiologist
What it treats
- •Gastrointestinal bleeding that endoscopy cannot reach or control
- •Post-partum haemorrhage, including as a uterus-sparing alternative to hysterectomy
- •Bleeding after trauma — spleen, liver, kidney or pelvic fractures
- •Haemoptysis from bronchial artery bleeding
- •Bleeding after surgery, biopsy or other interventions
Who is a candidate?
- Patients with active bleeding demonstrated on CT angiography or endoscopy
- Patients in whom surgery carries high risk or has already failed to control the source
- Patients where preserving the organ — the uterus, the spleen, a kidney — matters
- Referral is usually urgent and made by the emergency, surgical or obstetric team
How the procedure works
- 1
Localisation
CT angiography identifies the bleeding vessel and its territory before the patient reaches the angiography suite, so no time is lost searching.
- 2
Access
A catheter is placed through the femoral or radial artery under local anaesthetic. Sedation depends on how stable the patient is.
- 3
Selective catheterisation
The catheter is advanced into the bleeding branch itself, as close to the source as possible, so that only the damaged vessel is closed and surrounding tissue keeps its supply.
- 4
Embolization
Coils, gelatin sponge, particles or glue are deployed depending on the vessel and the cause. Completion angiography confirms the bleeding has stopped before the catheter is removed.
Recovery
Recovery depends far more on the underlying condition than on the embolization itself. Patients are usually monitored in a high-dependency or intensive care setting for the first 24 hours, with the treating team watching haemoglobin and vital signs. Where the bleeding was the acute problem, the puncture site itself heals in a few days.
Discuss this procedure
Private consultations and procedures are at Andalusia Hospitals, Maadi. Kasr Al-Ainy is Dr. El Ghobashy's academic post at Cairo University and does not take private cases.
Frequently asked questions
Is this available as an emergency?
Yes — that is the point of it. Bleeding embolization is time-critical and is arranged through the treating emergency, surgical or obstetric team rather than by routine appointment. Referring physicians can use the physician hub.
Will blocking the artery damage the organ?
Most organs have more than one source of blood, and the catheter is advanced as close to the bleeding point as possible so only the damaged branch is closed. The alternative — continued bleeding or emergency removal of the organ — carries far greater risk.
Can the uterus be saved in post-partum haemorrhage?
Uterine artery embolization is well established for post-partum haemorrhage and is specifically intended to control the bleeding while preserving the uterus, in place of emergency hysterectomy. Suitability depends on the cause and on how stable the patient is.
Other procedures
This page is general information, not medical advice for an individual. Whether a procedure suits you depends on your imaging, your history and an in-person assessment.