title: The Sengstaken-Blakemore tube: uses and abuses.
abstract: Due to its complications including oesophageal and gastric ulceration and perforation, the Sengstaken-Blakemore tube is used far less commonly in this new millennium where endoscopic intervention is available. We discuss in a 53-year-old Indian woman an unusual life-saving use of the Sengstaken-Blakemore tube in preventing fatal exsanguination from an aortoesophageal fistula, as well as rare but devastating consequences of the insertion and residence of the Sengstaken-Blakemore tube, including acute airway obstruction and bronchoesophageal fistula.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Surgical Intensive Care, Alexandra Hospital, 378 Alexandra Road, Singapore 159964. seetedwin@gmail.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seet
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beevee
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lim