Abstract

Background: Angiodysplasia of the caecum is a common vascular abnormality that causes  gastrointestinal bleeding, especially in elderly patients. Characterized by abnormal, dilated  blood vessels, angiodysplasia can lead to intermittent or acute haemorrhage. Embolization  with Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) particles is a minimally invasive technique gaining popularity  for managing bleeding from caecal angiodysplasia when endoscopy fails or is not possible. Objective: To evaluate the use of PVA embolization in the treatment of caecal angiodysplasia,  focusing on its effectiveness in controlling gastrointestinal bleeding and its advantages and  risks compared to other treatment options. Results: PVA embolization has shown high success rates in controlling gastrointestinal  bleeding associated with caecal angiodysplasia. The procedure is minimally invasive, with  most patients experiencing significant improvement in symptoms and a reduction in recurrent  bleeding episodes. Conclusion: Embolization with PVA is an effective and minimally invasive treatment for  caecal angiodysplasia, particularly in patients who do not respond to or are not candidates for  endoscopic therapies.

• 1.   Baum S, Athanasoulis CA, Waltman AC, Galdabini J, Schapiro RH, Warshaw AL, et al. Angiodysplasia of the right colon: a cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. Am J Roentgenol. 1977;129:789-794.
• 2.   Boley SJ, DiBiase A, Brandt LJ, Sammartano RJ. Lower intestinal bleeding in the elderly. Am J Surg. 1979;137(2):57-64.
• 3.   Athanasoulis CA, Galdabini JJ, Waltman AC, Novelline RA, Greenfield AJ, Ezpeleta ML. Angiodysplasia of the colon: a cause of rectal bleeding. Cardiovasc Radiol. 1978;1(2):53-63.
• 4.   Browder W, Cerise EJ, Litwin MS. Impact of emergency angiography in massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Ann Surg. 1986;204(5):530-536.
• 5.   Bookstein JJ, Naderi MJ, Walter JF. Transcatheter embolization for lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Radiology. 1978;127(2):345-349.
• 6.   Chuang VP, Wallace S, Zornoza J, Davis LJ. Transcatheter arterial occlusion in the management of rectosigmoid bleeding. Radiology. 1979;133(3):605-609.
• 7.   Tadavarthy SM, Moller JH, Amplatz K. Polyvinyl alcohol (Ivalon) - a new embolic material. Am J Roentgenol. 1975;125(3):609-616.
• 8.   Gerlock AJ Jr, Muhletaler CA, Berger JL, Halter SA, O'Leary JP, Avant GA. Infarction after embolization of the ileocolic artery. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 1981;4(3):202-205.
• 9.   Triadafilopoulos G. Management of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in older adults. Drugs Aging. 2012;29(9):707-715.
• 10.   Brown C, Subramanian V, Wilcox CM, Peter S. Somatostatin analogues in the treatment of recurrent bleeding from gastrointestinal vascular malformations: an overview and systematic review of prospective observational studies. Dig Dis Sci. 2010;55(9):2129-2134.

Funding