The Korean Journal of Critical Care Medicine  2014;29(3):237-240

doi:10.4266/kjccm.2014.29.3.237

Successful Bridging Hemostasis Using a Sengstaken-Blakemore Tube in Massive Rectal Variceal Bleeding.

Kyung Su KIM 1 ; Gil Joon SUH ; Woon Yong KWON

Affiliations

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Keywords

gastrointestinal hemorrhage; hemostasis; hypertension, portal; liver cirrhosis

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Life-threatening rectal variceal bleeding is a rare complication of liver cirrhosis. Various therapeutic interventions including endoscopic variceal ligation and percutaneous transvenous obliteration have been proposed to control significant rectal variceal bleeding. However, these definite hemostasis modalities are not readily available and require an experienced endoscopist or interventional radiologist. Therefore, bridging therapy to control active bleeding is necessary especially in patients with massive bleeding. We report a case of massive rectal variceal bleeding in which a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube was effective at stopping the bleeding until percutaneous transvenous obliteration could be performed.