Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2025
Complete and Partial Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta for Hemorrhagic Shock
Published on: May 19, 2022
REBOA in trauma: a life-saving intervention or a spectacular failure?
Bellal Joseph1, Demetrios Demetriades2
1Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Emergency Surgery and Burns, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, 1501 N. Campbell Ave, Room 5411, P.O. Box 245063, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA. bjoseph@arizona.edu.
Purpose:
Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is a controversial haemorrhage control intervention often touted as the bridge to definitive haemorrhage control. This review summarizes the evolution of REBOA from its inception to the latest applications with an emphasis on clinical outcomes.
Methods:
This is a narrative review based on a selective review of the literature.
Results:
REBOA remains a rarely utilized intervention in trauma patients. Complications have remained consistent over time despite purported improvements in catheter technology. Ischemia-reperfusion injuries, end-organ dysfunction, limb ischemia, and amputations have all been reported. Evidence-based guidelines are lacking, and appropriate indications and the ideal patient population for this intervention are yet to be defined.
Conclusion:
Despite the hype, purported technological advancements, and the mirage of high-quality studies over the last decade, REBOA has failed to keep up to its expectations. The quest to find the solution for uncontrolled NCTH remains unsolved.
