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Professional Technical IVT

resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion

Also written as: REBOA — Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta

Emergency endovascular technique using balloon catheter placement to control hemorrhage in severely injured trauma patients.

Full Definition

An advanced resuscitative technique where a balloon catheter is inserted via the femoral artery and positioned in the aorta to temporarily occlude blood flow below the level of injury, thereby controlling exsanguinating hemorrhage while surgical control is achieved. This procedure is typically reserved for patients in extremis with non-compressible torso hemorrhage and serves as a bridge to definitive surgical intervention.

Usage

Usage note: Always spell out the full term on first use, followed by the acronym REBOA in subsequent references.

In Context

  • "Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion was deployed as a bridge to emergency laparotomy in the exsanguinating patient." — trauma resuscitation report
  • "The patient's hemodynamic status improved immediately after resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion placement." — interventional procedure note

Also known as

REBOA aortic balloon occlusion

Contrasted with

open aortic cross-clamping

Don't confuse with

balloon tamponade endovascular embolization

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