ABSTRACT
Introduction: Th e ischaemic disorders as a complication of intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation (IABP) could be deleterious in critically ill patients with myocardial failure and cardiogenic shock. Th is study is a pilot to predict the length of the descending aorta to select the optimum IABP size for Asian patients. Methods: Th e somatometric features from 80 Chinese patients were used: gender, age, height, body mass index, body surface area, trans-pyloric plane. Moreover, the aortic length from the origin of left subclavian artery to the orifi ce of the celiac trunk (LSA-CT) measured from tomographic scan examination. Th e variables to predict the length from the LSA-CT were studied in four types of predictive statistical analysis: nonlinear regression analysis, tree model, linear regression, and log_linear regression. Th e model was defi ned by obtaining the R square. Results: Th ere were 59 males (mean age 53.9 years SD 13.2, height 170.8cm SD 4.0) and 21 females (mean age 58.7 years SD 7.8, height 160.2 cm SD 6.8). LSA-CT distance was found to be 279.5 SD 31.34 mm. Th e length of distance from the jugular notch to trans-pyloric plane was 273.8cm SD 12.5. Th e body mass index was 25.6 Kg/m2 SD 3.8 and the body surface area 1.8 m2 SD 0.1. Th e tree model for predicting the distance to the left subclavian artery to the celiac axis was chosen due to obtained an R2 square of 0,829. Th e comparison between the tomographic values and results of the tree model was realized with a nonparametric test. Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed that the values of computed tomograhy scan did not show a statistically signifi cant diff erence with the results of the tree model (Z = -0.827 p =0.408). Conclusion: Th e tree model for predicting the distance from the left subclavian artery to the celiac trunk, could be an accurate guide to choosing an adequate catheter length of intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation in Asian patients.