A Novel Method for Monitoring Balloon Tamponade Device Pressures in Critical Care Transport

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is a relatively common and life-threatening condition encountered by critical care transport crews. Balloon tamponade devices (BTD) are used as a resuscitative intervention to apply pressure to esophageal and gastric varices in order to achieve hemostasis until a patient gets to definitive intervention. These devices can be effective, but there are also serious complications and cause harm if balloon pressures are elevated and not monitored carefully. Furthermore, there are significant challenges associated with secure and moving patients with these devices in place. We present a novel method to continually monitor BTD pressures with equipment that is commonly carried by critical care transport crews or is available in virtually any medical facility. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is a relatively common and life-threatening condition encountered by critical care transport crews. Balloon tamponade devices (BTD) are used as a resuscitative intervention to apply pressure to esophageal and gastric varices in order to achieve hemostasis until a patient gets to definitive intervention. These devices can be effective, but there are also serious complications and cause harm if balloon pressures are elevated and not monitored carefully. Furthermore, there are significant challenges associated with secure and moving patients with these devices in place. We present a novel method to continually monitor BTD pressures with equipment that is commonly carried by critical care transport crews or is available in virtually any medical facility.