[Balloon catheter arterial occlusion before high-risk splenectomy and nephrectomy]

Balloon catheter occlusion of the splenic or renal artery was undertaken in 10 patients (7 men and 3 women, aged 20-76 years) 30 to 120 min before a splenectomy (n = 8) or nephrectomy (n = 2), for the purpose of preventing a high intra- and post-operative blood loss and facilitating the technical procedure of removing an often markedly enlarged spleen. The operation time after balloon catheter occlusion was only 60-140 min; intra- and post-operative complications did not occur, other than one instance of pneumonia and one of subcutaneous haematoma. This method would seem to be suitable for reducing the operative risk of splenectomy or nephrectomy in the presence of a giant spleen or reduced tolerance of operation.