Countering hemorrhagic shock due to duodenal variceal rupture with resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) has become an important option for managing life-threatening, traumatic or non-traumatic, arterial bleeding. The use of REBOA in variceal hemorrhagic shock, however, has rarely been reported. A 54-year-old man with untreated alcoholic liver cirrhosis presented with hematochezia and altered mental status. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography suggested ruptured duodenal varices. Since the patient had profound hypotension, we performed REBOA to temporize the hemorrhage. Immediately after balloon inflation, his blood pressure increased, allowing us to safely perform endoscopic variceal ligation. Our case indicates that REBOA is effective in controlling portal venous flow in acute gastrointestinal variceal hemorrhage.