To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Viabahn covered stent for hemorrhage after abdominal surgery.

This was a retrospective study conducted from January 2017 to December 2020 in 17 patients who underwent Viabahn covered stent implantation for intra-abdominal or gastrointestinal hemorrhage after abdominal surgery. Technical success rate, clinical success rate, the rate of re-bleeding, mortality and complications were evaluated.

Of the 17 patients, 15 patients were with pseudoaneurysm and 2 with extravasation of the contrast agent. Offending vessels included hepatic artery or celiac trunk in 8 cases , superior mesenteric artery in 6 cases, gastroduodenal artery in 2 cases and splenic artery in 1 case. Technical success rate was 100% (17/17), and clinical success rate was 70.6% (12/17). Recurrence bleeding was observed in 5 patients. For these 5 patients, hemostasis was achieved in 2 patients following re-intervention, one patient was discharged after trans-surgical treatment, and two patients died of secondary septic shock. During the follow-up period, stent occlusion occurred in 2 patients, of which 1 patient had secondary liver failure and discharged after conservative treatment. No other serious complications were observed during the follow-up period. The mortality rate in hospital was 17.6% (3/17). The causes of death included septic shock (n = 2) and heart failure (n = 1).

Implantation of Viabahn covered stent was a safe and effective option for the treatment of postoperative hemorrhage. Therefore, it is worthy of clinical popularization and application.