Iatrogenic hemobilia: management with transarterial embolization using gelfoam particles.

ABSTRACT

Four patients with life threatening bleeding hemobilia from the hepatic artery were successfully treated with transarterial embolization with small gelfoam particles with no recurrence of bleeding on follow-up study. The iatragenic hemobilia occurred inadvertently during surgery in two patients, with liver biopsy in one patient and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage procedure in another patient. Transarterial embolization appears safe and may be regarded as a life-saving treatment for bleeding hemobilia.