The nurse must be alert for complications with Sengstaken-Blakemore intubation including:
A. Pulmonary obstruction
B. Pericardiectomy syndrome
C. Pulmonary embolization
D. Cor pulmonale
Correct Answer: A. Pulmonary obstruction.
Rupture or deflation of the balloon could result in upper airway obstruction. Esophageal rupture is a well-known but rarely reported fatal complication of the management of bleeding esophageal varices with the Sengstaken-Blakemore (SB) tube. The most common complications of esophageal balloon therapy for varices include aspiration, esophageal perforation, and pressure necrosis of the mucosa. The other choices are not related to the tube.
Option B: A pericardiectomy is a procedure done on the sac around the heart. A surgeon cuts away this sac or a large part of this sac. This allows the heart to move freely. Pericardiectomy is most often needed in people with chronic constrictive pericarditis. It’s not usually an option for people who have had a single instance of pericarditis. With chronic constrictive pericarditis, the pericardium has become stiff and thick. This is due to repeated scarring. This scarring constricts the heart’s movement.
Option C: A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that occurs in the lungs. It can damage part of the lung due to restricted blood flow, decrease oxygen levels in the blood, and affect other organs as well. Large or multiple blood clots can be fatal. The blockage can be life-threatening.
Option D: Cor pulmonale is a condition that most commonly arises out of complications from high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries (pulmonary hypertension). It’s also known as right-sided heart failure because it occurs within the right ventricle of the heart.
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