- It is designed to control bleeding from esophageal varices and help find the source of gastrointestinal hemorrhage
Uses
- Emergency Hemorrhage Control:
- It provides immediate mechanical compression to control acute, uncontrolled upper gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly from bleeding esophageal varices
- Diagnostic Aid:
- It can help find the source and extent of a hemorrhage within the stomach or esophagus
- Aspiration:
- The tube has lumens to remove fluids from both the esophagus and stomach
Features
- Design:
- It has a 3-lumen tube: one for gastric aspiration, one for the esophageal balloon inflation, and one for the gastric balloon inflation
- Balloons:
- It has two balloons
- They are inflated with air to apply pressure to bleeding varices
- Size:
- The tube size is 20 French (Fr.)
- Length:
- The tube is approximately 39 inches long
- Placement:
- It can be placed through the mouth or nose
- Material:
- It contains latex
- Disposal:
- It is single-use and not sterile
Benefits
- Life-Saving Intervention:
- It offers a critical rescue measure for severe gastrointestinal bleeding when standard treatments are not available or delayed
- Targeted Pressure:
- The balloons allow pressure to be applied directly to the site of bleeding in the esophagus and stomach
- Diagnostic Capability:
- Aspiration lumens allow for fluid removal, helping clinicians in assessment and management
