Treatment of intra-abdominal haemorrhagic shock by Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA).

PURPOSE: Haemorrhagic shock is commonly encountered in the emergency room and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. For intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal bleeding, treatment usually requires either surgery or an interventional radiologic procedure. Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) has already been described for pelvic fractures and intra-abdominal haemorrhages. In this case report, we present the use of REBOA in a patient admitted for haemorrhagic shock due to a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm.

CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a 35-year-old male with suspected massive pulmonary embolism. Prior to diagnostic confirmation by CT-scan, the patient suffered several cardiac arrests. CT-scan revealed a massive haemoperitoneum secondary to a ruptured aneurysm of the splenic artery. Because of refractory hypotension despite maximal conventional therapy, we used REBOA before patient transfer to the operating room for splenectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

This case underlines the feasibility of REBOA and discusses its role in uncontrollable intra-abdominal haemorrhagic shock.