The major disadvantage of mesenteric angiography in the setting of GI bleeding is:: (A) It does not identify the specific cause of the bleeding, (B) Embolization is not possible, (C) Vasopressin infusion is not possible, (D) Transient ischemic attacks
Answer is A. Angiography can be used to diagnose and treat severe bleeding. It can be diagnostic, only when the aerial bleeding rate is at least 0.5 mL/min. The sensitivity is 30% to 50% The specificity is 100%. Advantage It permits therapeutic intra-aerial infusion of vasopressin Transcatheter embolization for hemostasis. Disadvantage: Complications-3% Hematoma formation Femoral aery thrombosis Contrast dye reactions Acute kidney injury Intestinal ischemia Transient ischemic attacks Does not identify the specific cause of bleedin