Computed tomography imaging of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA): pearls and pitfalls

Jpn J Radiol. 2021 Dec;39(12):1133-1140. doi: 10.1007/s11604-021-01166-w. Epub 2021 Jul 3.

Abstract

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is performed in patients with hemorrhagic shock who develop massive subdiaphragmatic bleeding. This procedure enables rapid and less invasive aortic blockade compared to resuscitative thoracotomy and aortic cross-clamp procedures. However, the REBOA procedure is often blindly performed in the emergency department without fluoroscopy, and the appropriateness of the procedure may be evaluated on computed tomography (CT) after REBOA. Therefore, radiologists should be familiar with the imaging features of REBOA. We present a pictorial review of the radiological findings of REBOA along with a description of the procedure, its complications, and pitfalls.

Keywords: Complications; Computed tomography; Pitfalls; Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta.

MeSH terms

  • Aorta / diagnostic imaging
  • Aorta / surgery
  • Balloon Occlusion*
  • Endovascular Procedures*
  • Humans
  • Resuscitation
  • Shock, Hemorrhagic* / diagnostic imaging
  • Shock, Hemorrhagic* / therapy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed