American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

What is the primary benefit of using angiography in cases of gastrointestinal bleeding?

1. Providing a detailed imaging of organs

2. Facilitating cure of underlying diseases

3. Identifying bleeding and allowing for therapeutic intervention

4. Detecting malignancies early

The correct answer is: Identifying bleeding and allowing for therapeutic intervention

The primary benefit of using angiography in cases of gastrointestinal bleeding lies in its ability to identify the source of the bleeding and permit therapeutic intervention. Angiography provides real-time imaging of the blood vessels in the gastrointestinal tract, allowing clinicians to pinpoint the location of active hemorrhage. This is particularly valuable in emergency situations where rapid assessment and intervention are critical. Once the source of bleeding is identified, angiography can not only confirm the diagnosis but also facilitate therapeutic techniques such as embolization, which is a procedure that blocks or reduces blood flow to areas of active bleeding. This can often control the hemorrhage effectively without the need for more invasive surgical procedures. While angiography can indeed provide detailed imaging and assist in managing certain underlying diseases, its most significant and time-sensitive role in gastrointestinal bleeding is in the identification and treatment of active hemorrhage. This capability is what makes it an essential tool in emergency medicine for patients presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding.