Sengstaken-Blakemore tube

Indications

• hemorrhage from
  • esophageal varices (rarely used today)

Procedure

• a flexible plastic tube containing several internal channels & 2 inflatable balloons (gastric & esophageal balloons)
• an opening at the bottom (gastric tip) is used to aspirate gastric contents
• the tube is passed through the esophagus & into the stomach
• the gastric balloon is inflated inside the stomach
• traction of 1 kg is applied to the tube so that the gastric balloon will compress the gastroesophageal junction & reduce blood flow to esophageal varices
• if traction alone does not stop the bleeding, the esophageal balloon is inflated

* the esophageal balloon should not remain inflated >6 hours, to avoid necrosis

More general terms

• balloon tamponade