Intraaortic Balloom Pumping in Open Heart Surgery

Between March 1988 and October 1990, intraaortic ballon pumping (IABP) was attempted in 52 cardiac surgical patients. The indications for IABP consisted of unsuccessful discontinuation of cardiopulmonary bypass (27 %), postoperative low cardiac output or hemodynamic instability (71 %), preoperative unstable angina pectoric unresponsive to pharmacological treatment (2 %). Immediate mortality was 28 %. The overall survival was 63 %. Complications related to IABP occurred in 12 patients (28 %). Though originally developed to assist in the nonoperative management of complications of ischemic heart disease, IABP assistance is a valuable technique in the salvage of critically ill patients with severe pump failure after an open heart operation.