Contents

Disclaimer

Oxford University Press makes no representation, express or implied, that the drug dosages in this book are correct. Readers must therefore always check the product information and clinical procedures with the most up to date published product information and data sheets provided by the manufacturers and the most recent codes of conduct and safety regulations. The authors and the publishers do not accept responsibility or legal liability for any errors in the text or for the misuse or misapplication of material in this work. Except where otherwise stated, drug dosages and recommendations are for the non-pregnant adult who is not breastfeeding.

Show Summary Details
Page of

Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation in the ICU 

Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation in the ICU
Chapter:
Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation in the ICU
Author(s):

Alain Combes

and Nicolas Bréchot

DOI:
10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0153
Page of

PRINTED FROM OXFORD MEDICINE ONLINE (www.oxfordmedicine.com). © Oxford University Press, 2021. All Rights Reserved. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single chapter of a title in Oxford Medicine Online for personal use (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).

date: 23 January 2022

The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is a mechanical device consisting of a cylindrical polyethylene balloon that sits in the aorta, approximately 2 cm from the left subclavian artery. A computer-controlled console linked to either an electrocardiogramor a pressure transducer inflates the balloon with helium during diastole (counterpulsation) and actively deflates in systole. This results in an increase in coronary artery blood flow and cardiac output, and reduced left ventricular afterload. These actions combine to decrease myocardial oxygen demand and increase supply. Major complications include bleeding at the insertion site and retroperitoneal haemorrhage, critical ischaemia of the catheterized leg, catheter infection, and stroke. IABP duration usually varies from 48 to 72 hours. Weaning from IABP is not well defined; the most common approach is to reduce cycling of inflation to 1:2 or 1:4 for 15 minutes to several hours before device removal.

Access to the complete content on Oxford Medicine Online requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts for each book and chapter without a subscription.

Please subscribe or login to access full text content.

If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code.

For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.