Selective angiography as a diagnostic aid in acute massive gastrointestinal bleeding.

Five patients had massive hemorrhage from gastric or duodenal ulcers; in four of them selective angiography was performed in order to locate the site of bleeding. At laparotomy the bleeding was promptly found and dealt with. In the fifth patient, who had no angiography done for technical reasons, there were difficulties finding the source of the hemorrhage. In certain patients with severe gastrointestinal bleeding selective celiac angiography has a definite place as a diganostic aid and also as a means of locating the site of bleeding.