OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility and efficacy of transarterial embolization (TAE) in haemorrhagic urological emergencies, and to assess the perioperative morbidity, effect of timing of intervention on the requirement for blood transfusion, and the long-term follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between October 1997 and March 2009, 44 patients (30 men and 14 women; mean age 79 years, range 51-95) with intractable haematuria secondary to advanced pelvic tumour arising from or invading the bladder, underwent internal iliac TAE. Twenty-four patients had transitional carcinoma of the urinary bladder, 12 adenocarcinoma of the prostate, five carcinoma of the uterus, one cancer of the vagina, two carcinoma of the rectum, three carcinoma of the kidney, two simultaneous carcinoma of prostate and bladder, one simultaneous carcinoma of prostate and kidney and one had haemorrhagic cystitis after radiotherapy. RESULTS: TAE of the internal iliac arteries produced initial complete control of blee
