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Sengstaken–Blakemore tube

Medical device

Field	Value
Name	Sengstaken–Blakemore tube
Image	Sengstaken-Blakemore scheme EN.svg
Caption	Diagram of a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube in use. There are sphygmomanometer drains connected with esophageal port, to enable inflating the balloon with correct pressure.
ICD9

A Sengstaken–Blakemore tube is a medical device inserted through the nose or mouth and used occasionally in the management of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to esophageal varices (distended and fragile veins in the esophageal wall, usually a result of cirrhosis). The use of the tube was originally described in 1950, although similar approaches to bleeding varices were described by Westphal in 1930. With the advent of modern endoscopic techniques which can rapidly and definitively control variceal bleeding, Sengstaken–Blakemore tubes are rarely used at present. TOC

Device

date=May 2022}}

Generally, Sengstaken–Blakemore tubes and Minnesota tubes are used only in emergencies where bleeding from presumed varices is impossible to control with medication alone. The tube may be difficult to position, particularly in an unwell patient, and may inadvertently be inserted in the trachea, hence endotracheal intubation before the procedure is strongly advised to secure the airway. The tube is often kept in the refrigerator in the hospital's emergency department, intensive care unit and gastroenterology ward. It is a temporary measure: ulceration and rupture of the esophagus and stomach are recognized complications.

A related device with a larger gastric balloon capacity (about 500 ml), the Linton–Nachlas tube, is used for bleeding gastric varices. It does not have an esophageal balloon.

Eponym

It is named after Robert William Sengstaken Sr. (1923–1978), an American neurosurgeon, and Arthur Blakemore (1897–1970), an American vascular surgeon. They conceptualized and invented the tube in the early 1950s.

References

(1950). "Balloon tamponage for the control of hemorrhage from esophageal varices". Ann Surg.
Westphal K. (1930). "Ueber eine Kompressionsbehandlung der Blutungen aus Oesophagusvarizen". Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift.
(May 17, 2009). "Sengstaken-Blakemore Tube". [[Medscape]].
(1974). "The use of the Sengstaken-Blakemore tube for immediate control of bleeding esophageal varices". Ann Surg.
(2005). "Images in clinical medicine. Malposition of a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube". N. Engl. J. Med..

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

gastroenterology medical-equipment

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