The novel use of wooden spoons for control of massive intra-abdominal hemorrhage.

Massive intra-abdominal hemorrhage represents a challenging operative emergency. Temporary control of the aorta and inferior vena cava (IVC) using intra-luminal balloon occlusion, preemptive trans-thoracic clamping or infra-diaphragmatic clamping has been achieved with variable success. We report the use of wooden spoons with convex arches cut from their bases as a cheap and effective alternative. They can be used to compress the aorta or IVC against the vertebrae, giving vascular control while leaving good surgical access. This equipment requires minimal financial investment and only basic woodworking skills.