Gastric Mucosal Blood Flow Before and After TAE

: An evaluation of gastrointestinal complications after transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was conducted by endoscopy in order to investigate the pathogenesis of post TAE gastrointestinal complications. In addition, the gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) was evaluated by a laser doppler. The incidence of complications following the administration of a H2–blocker was 34.1%, whereas the incidence following the administration of PGE1 and without medication were 2.3% (P >0.01) and 9.4%, respectively. In the group which did not receive medication, just after a TAE the GMBF decreased markedly in the lesser curvature of the gastric antrum (P >0.01), and in the lesser and greater curvature of the gastric body. This persisted from 1 to 7 days after the TAE with the GMBF showing a tendency to recover. On the other hand, in the group who received PGE1, the GMBF did not decrease in any site of the stomach following TAE. These findings suggested that the ischemia which occurred due to a decrease in the GMBF caused the gastrointestinal complications seen.