Use of Fogarty catheter tamponade for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms

A simple rapid potentially life-serving aid in the treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms by the use of a Fogarty no. 8 French catheter is presented. In five cases at high surgical risk, further bleeding was successfully controlled by occluding the aorta proximal to the site of the ruptured aneurysm, making operative procedure easier. Four of the five patients survived the procedure. The technique of inserting the catheter via a left axillary arteriotomy and the solutions to certain technical difficulties are discussed.