The Colombian Experience in Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA): The Progression from a Large Caliber to a Low-Profile Device at a Level I Trauma Center

PURPOSE: REBOA is now performed in many trauma centers, it is used at more than 250 hospitals in the United States and there is an increase rate of publications with the experience in these centers, but there is a gap of knowledge regarding the use of REBOA in Latin-America. This paper endeavour to describe the utilization of REBOA at a high level Latin-American Trauma Center and the transition from a large caliber to a low-profile device with the concomitant reduction in the groin access complications. METHODS: a prospective, observational, single-center study was conducted. We included all trauma patients who underwent REBOA. Data from admission parameters, complications and clinical outcomes we recorded. RESULTS: 50 patients were included. Most of the REBOA catheters were inserted in the Operating Room (OR) [47 (94%)], and the arterial access was done by surgical cutdown [40 (80%)]. All the complications were associated to the catheter of 11 Fr Sheath used in 36 patients [n = 8/36 (22%) vs. n = 0/14 (0%); p = 0.05]. CONCLUSION: REBOA can be used safely in blunt or penetrating thoracic, abdominal and pelvic trauma. The insertion of a 7 Fr Sheath was associated with lower complications, so its use should be preferred over larger calibers.