Balloon Tamponade
Balloon tamponade devices, such as the Sengstaken-Blakemore tube (3 lumen) or Minnesota tube (4 lumen due to inclusion of an oesophageal aspiration port), should be inserted in patients with variceal haemorrhage that has continued to bleed despite medical therapy when endoscopy is not immediately available. These devices are only temporary measures pending definitive management by endoscopy.
Tamponade provides good control of bleeding in 90%, although most will re-bleed within 24 hours. [7]