REBOA
Pronunciation: REE-bow-ah
Also written as: REBOA — Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta
Emergency endovascular procedure using an inflatable balloon to temporarily occlude aortic blood flow in trauma patients.
Full Definition
Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) is an emergency endovascular intervention used in acute care surgery to temporarily control hemorrhage in trauma patients. The procedure involves placing an inflatable balloon catheter in the aorta to reduce blood flow to the lower body, serving as a bridge to definitive surgical repair. REBOA is considered an alternative to emergency thoracotomy with aortic cross-clamping in select patients with non-compressible torso hemorrhage. The technique requires specialized training and equipment, and timing is critical to prevent complications from prolonged ischemia.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize as REBOA; avoid using 'aortic balloon' alone as it may be confused with other balloon devices.
In Context
- "The trauma team deployed REBOA in Zone I to control exsanguinating hemorrhage from the abdomen." — Operative report
- "REBOA inflation time should not exceed 60 minutes to prevent irreversible lower extremity ischemia." — Clinical protocol