Sengstaken-Blakemore Tube

An SB tube is a long, flexible tube with a gastric and esophageal balloon on one end and three ports or channels on the other end. The ports each have a unique function:

• A gastric balloon port inflates the balloon in your stomach
• An esophageal balloon port inflates the balloon in your esophagus
• A suction port suctions or removes fluid from your stomach

Placement of SB tube

Your provider inserts the ends that contain the balloons inside your nose or mouth and down your esophagus. They’ll use X-ray to ensure the tube is in the right place.

From there, your provider fills the gastric balloon through the gastric balloon port while it’s inside your stomach. Likewise, they fill the esophageal balloon through the esophageal balloon port.

The two filled balloons work by putting pressure on the blood vessels in your stomach or esophagus that are bleeding. Your provider can also add extra weight to the tube, which adds additional pressure. This pressure works to stop the bleeding. The suction port removes fluid and blood from your stomach.

The SB balloon stays in place until the bleeding stops. This can take several hours. Then, your provider slowly takes the air out of the balloons and pulls out the tube. There’s a 50% chance the bleeding will start again once your provider takes the SB tube out. Your provider will be prepared with another treatment to stop the bleeding if this should happen.