Control of Inferior Vena Cava Injury Using Percutaneous Balloon Catheter Occlusion

• Published in: Vascular and endovascular surgery 2009-10, Vol.43 (5), p.490-493
• Main Authors: Bui, Trung D., Mills, Joseph L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Balloon Occlusion; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the cardiovascular system; Hemostasis; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Radiography; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Vascular surgery: aorta, extremities, vena cava. Surgery of the lymphatic vessels; Vena Cava, Inferior - diagnostic imaging; Vena Cava, Inferior - injuries; Wounds, Gunshot - surgery
• ISSN: 1538-5744; 1938-9116
• DOI: 10.1177/1538574409339939

Traumatic inferior vena cava (IVC) injuries are highly lethal and require prompt surgical intervention. Traditional methods of vascular control include manual compression, gentle clamping or balloon occlusion catheters. These open methods require direct dissection into the hematoma for visualization, which can lead to massive hemorrhage. We present a case of percutaneously delivered balloon catheter occlusion for vascular control prior to repair of an infrarenal IVC injury as a potential alternative. This approach achieves complete occlusion of the injury site and allow easier repair of the IVC, thereby reducing operative time and blood loss.