The end of balloons? Our take on the UK-REBOA trial

Jostein Rødseth Brede; Marius Rehn

doi:10.1186/s13049-023-01142-5

The end of balloons? Our take on the UK-REBOA trial

Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2023 Oct 31;31(1):69. doi: 10.1186/s13049-023-01142-5.

Authors

Jostein Rødseth Brede^{1

2

3}, Marius Rehn^{4

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine and Pre-Hospital Services, St. Olav's University Hospital, Prinsesse Kristinas Gate 3, 7006, Trondheim, Norway. Jostein.brede@norskluftambulanse.no.
² Department of Research and Development, Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Oslo, Norway. Jostein.brede@norskluftambulanse.no.
³ Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. Jostein.brede@norskluftambulanse.no.
⁴ Department of Research and Development, Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Oslo, Norway.
⁵ Division of Prehospital Services, Air Ambulance Department, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
⁶ Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Abstract

Background: Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is increasingly used. The recently published UK-REBOA trial aimed to investigate patients suffering haemorrhagic shock and randomized to standard care alone or REBOA as adjunct to standard care and concludes that REBOA may increase the mortality.

Main body: In this commentary we try to balance the discussion on use of REBOA and address limitations in the UK-REBOA trial that may have influenced the outcome of the study.

Conclusion: The situation is complex, and the patients are in extremis. In summary, we do not think this is the end of balloons.

Keywords: Aortic occlusion; Non-compressible haemorrhage; REBOA; Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta; UK-REBOA trial.

Publication types

Editorial

MeSH terms

Aorta
Balloon Occlusion*
Endovascular Procedures*
Humans
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Resuscitation
Shock, Hemorrhagic* / therapy
United Kingdom