Intra aortic balloon counterpulsation in coronary artery disease: indications, complications and current practice

ABSTRACT

As the proportion of high risk patients with coronary artery disease, submitted for either interventional cardiology or surgical procedures increases, use of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation [IABC] has increased, especially as preoperative therapy. Although the efficacy arid cost-effectiveness of IABC have been demonstrated, historically higher complication rates have dissuaded some doctors from IABC use. In this review indications, complications, outcomes as well as current and future IABC practices, in relation to coronary artery disease are high-lighted. Widened indications for IABC use, particularly as preoperative therapy in high-risk patients, have lead to better patient outcomes arid improved IABC technology. This has led to increased use of IABC with lower complication rates than previously reported in the literature