Zone 3 resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta: Deflating doubts, one trauma at a time

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is a controversial intervention for managing noncompressible torso hemorrhage in hemodynamically unstable trauma patients. This case highlights the ideal use of zone 3 REBOA in a patient who sustained severe pelvic trauma after a tree fell on him. Zone 3 REBOA was rapidly deployed as part of the institution's zone 3 REBOA protocol, leading to immediate hemodynamic improvement. Despite ongoing controversies around the use of REBOA in trauma, this case demonstrates how timely zone 3 REBOA, executed within an established trauma protocol by a clinician with sufficient training, can serve as a life-saving intervention.