Utilization of an Occlusion Balloon Catheter during Stent-Graft Placement to Treat Postsurgical Visceral Arterial Hemorrhage

The utility of occluding the bleeding artery using an occlusion balloon catheter during stent-graft placement for visceral artery bleeding was evaluated. Stent-graft placement for visceral artery bleeding was performed using a balloon catheter in 6 patients. All bleeding occurred after biliary or pancreatic surgery. Since 1 patient underwent the procedure twice, 7 procedures were assessed in total. Technical success, procedure-related adverse events, and 30-day mortality rates were evaluated. Technical success was defined as the placement of the stent-graft at the target site and the resolution of extravasation or pseudoaneurysm. In all procedures, stent-graft placement was successfully performed (technical success rate, 100%). Focal liver infarction occurred in 2 of 7 patients (29%), but did not require further treatment and was considered a minor adverse event. The 30-day mortality rate was 0%. In conclusion, the use of an occlusion balloon in the feeding artery facilitated successful stent-graft repair of hemorrhage from visceral arteries.