Embolisation for massive or ongoing significant bleeding, is probably the most frequent referral to the Interventional Radiologists as in an emergency when it is causing hemodynamically significant abnormality, possibly only offers hope of treatment if the bleeding can be stopped immediately. Bleeding from any organ system can be arrested by blocking and occluding the bleeding vessels if identifiable. In cases of massive haemoptysis or GI bleed, the only possible way to settle or stabilise the patient is emergency embolisation of bleeding vessels like bronchial artery embolisation, splenic or hepatic artery embolisation and so on.

Similarly, massive variceal bleed (secondary to portal hypertension) can be arrested by a variety of emergency procedures like transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS), balloon occluded retrograde occlusion of varices (BRTO) or their variants like DIPSS, PARTO, BATO, CATO and so on. These are highly specific and technically demanding procedures which can only be done by well trained interventionists in this arena.