[Intra-aortic balloon occlusion of the descending thoracic aorta for intra-abdominal hemorrhage].

Intra-aortic balloon occlusion (IABO) of the descending aorta is beneficial to rescue patients in shock following traumatic intra-abdominal hemorrhage. The authors experienced four such patients who had received IABO of the descending thoracic aorta to maintain hemodynamics prior to operation. After hemostasis, the balloon was deflated gradually. Releasing the balloon in the operating room was, however, abandoned in two patients because of severe deoxygenation and life threatening arrhythmia. In the other two patients, the balloon was successfully deflated during the operations; one of them died a week later from multiple organ failure. We conclude that shortening the aortic occlusion time as well as the treatments for adverse effects of balloon release are important in the anesthetic management of patients receiving IABO.