To review cases at our interventional radiology department involving conventional and non-conventional use of balloon catheters and to illustrate the versatility and utility of balloon catheter techniques.

We reviewed the literature for use of balloon catheters in a variety of cases and demonstrate our own examples of enhanced treatment and intervention with the use of similar, innovative techniques in seven different cases. The comparable cases and examples we found in the literature included: Balloon assisted pseudoaneurysm management1 Arterial balloon occlusion in surgical excision2,3 Balloon assisted foreign body retrieval4 Endoscopic balloon-trawling5 Advanced techniques in IVC filter retrieval6 These examples served as a reference point for comparison of indication, technique and outcomes.

Case 1: Transvenous, ipsilateral IJV, retrograde approach, balloon-assisted thrombin injection of left brachial artery pseudoaneurysm & concomitant angioplasty (Figure 1 A-C) 62-year-old female. Traumatic needling of left brachio-basilic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) at hemodialysis. Unintentional injury to brachial artery inflow during needling at HD Fistulogram (Figure 1A) demonstrates pseudoaneurysm of the mid-brachial artery (red arrow) and juxta-anastomotic outflow venous stenoses (blue arrow). Balloon catheter utilized to: Occlude the pseudoaneurysm neck (Figure 1B – arrow head) followed by successful ultrasound-guided thrombin injection of the pseudoaneurysm. Satisfactory balloon-plasty...

We present a selection of cases and images from our department that demonstrate the safe and effective use of balloon catheter techniques in a variety of clinical scenarios and serve to remind interventionalists of the versatility of the balloon and its place as a capable instrument in the IR arsenal.

Gregory M, Guest M, Abdeen I, Steiner K. Balloon assisted, ultrasound guided percutaneous thrombin injection of a large radial artery pseudoaneurysm using a trans-venous approach via an Ipsilateral Arteriovenous Fistula. CVIR Endovascular [Internet]. 2021 [cited 4 March 2022];4(1). Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34448060 Yamashita H, Ohuchida J, Shimura H, Aibe H, Honda H, Kuroki S, Chijiiwa K, Tanaka M. Laparoscopic splenectomy aided by balloon occlusion of the splenic artery: report of a case. Surg Laparosc Endosc. 1996 Aug;6(4):326-9. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8840460/ Dai M, Zhang F, Li K,...