Balloon tamponade

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

Balloon Tamponade is a medical procedure used to stop bleeding from large blood vessels by inserting a balloon into the affected area and inflating it. This technique is commonly used in cases of gastrointestinal bleeding, postpartum hemorrhage, and esophageal varices.

History[edit | edit source]

The use of balloon tamponade in medical practice dates back to the early 20th century. The first recorded use of this technique was by Rudolph Matas, a pioneer in vascular surgery, who used it to control bleeding in aneurysms.

Procedure[edit | edit source]

The balloon tamponade procedure involves the insertion of a specially designed balloon into the affected area. The balloon is then inflated to apply pressure to the bleeding vessel, effectively stopping the flow of blood. The size and shape of the balloon can be adjusted to fit the specific anatomy of the patient and the location of the bleeding.

In the case of gastrointestinal bleeding, a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube may be used. This device has two balloons, one for the stomach and one for the esophagus, and can be used to control bleeding from esophageal varices.

For postpartum hemorrhage, a Bakri balloon may be used. This balloon is inserted into the uterus and inflated to apply pressure to the bleeding vessels.

Risks and Complications[edit | edit source]

While balloon tamponade is generally considered a safe procedure, there are potential risks and complications. These can include infection, damage to the tissue where the balloon is inserted, and rebleeding once the balloon is deflated. In rare cases, the balloon may rupture during the procedure.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

Resources[edit source]

Latest articles - Balloon tamponade

PubMed
Clinical trials
UpToDate

AI tools[edit source]

Generative AI tools and links to learn more on Balloon tamponade: ChatGPT - Bing Chat - Google Gemini. (caution advised).


Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Admin, Prab R. Tumpati, MD