PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of transcatheter embolization for the treatment of massive gastrointestinal arterial bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was based on retrospective analysis of twelve cases(8 men, 4 women) including two patients with hemobilia in which transcatheter embolization was attempted for the control of massive gastrointestinal bleeding from March 1987 to October 1993. Clinical diagnoses of these patients were peptic ulcer(5), pseudoaneurysm formation(3) following percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage or traffic accident, stomach cancer(I), typhoid fever(I), duodenal leiomyoma(1) and Osler-Weber-Rendu disease (1). RESULTS: Embolized vessels are as follows: gastroduodenal artery(6), left gastric artery(2), ileocolic artery(2), and hepatic artery(2). Embolization was effective in immediate control of bleeding in all patients. Although five of the six patients who had undergone embolization of the gastroduodenal artery developed rebleeding within 24 hour, only 2 reguired surgery and none showed serious complication. CONCLUSION: Embolization therapy is safe and effective initial treatment of choice for life-threatening massive gastrointestinal bleeding.