Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta as a Bridge to Organ Donation after Blunt Trauma

Solid organ transplantation is limited worldwide by a shortage of donor organs. Trauma patients with unsurvivable injuries comprise a large portion of potential organ donors, but many of them die from cardiovascular collapse before donation can be pursued. We report the use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) to stabilize a deteriorating patient with blunt trauma who was ultimately able to donate multiple organs and tissues. Survival to organ donation is a tangible and beneficial outcome of REBOA.