Percutaneous intraaortic balloon pulsation for management of life threatening emergencies in an intensive coronary care unit.

ABSTRACT

The indications for the outcome of use of intraaortic balloon pulsation (IABP) in 66 patients (65 males, 1 female), in addition to the usual conventional medical therapy, are reported here. IABP was used for treatment of cardiogenic shock (5 patients), acute myocardial infarction with rupture of interventricular septum (2 patients), acute myocardial infarction with refractory left ventricular failure (2 patients), resistant ventricular tachyarrhythmias (5 patients), refractory angina (50 patients) and for hypotension following high risk coronary angiography (2 patients). A Datascope 10.5 F percutaneous balloon was inserted in all, mostly using the left femoral artery. Either definitive treatment (coronary artery bypass surgery or coronary angioplasty) was offered when feasible or the balloon was weaned off. Twelve patients underwent coronary angiography on IABP; while 31 patients had undergone the angiography earlier. Surgery was possible in 33 patients with 90% survival rate. The non surgical group showed 30% survival rate. The complications of IABP encountered were leg ischaemia (2 patients), septicemia (4 patients) and balloon rupture (2 patients). Our experience suggests that percutaneous IABP is a very useful management procedure for seriously sick high risk patients prior to definitive therapy. Patients who could have a definitive treatment while on IABP, especially the group with refractory angina, did best on a short term follow up. Vascular complications are minimal while on IABP.