| name: | Balloon Pump |
| also known as: | Intra-aortic Balloon Pump; Intraaortic Balloon Pump; IABP; Intra-Aortic Balloon Counterpulsation; IABC; Assist Device |
| also see: | Cardiomyopathy; Angina; Mitral Regurgitation; Shock |
| description: | A balloon pump is an assist device that when inserted into a patient, pumps blood. It is often used in cases of cardiomyopathy, especially low output heart failure when the person's own heart cannot keep up with demand, as well as for unstable angina, cardiogenic shock, and severe mitral regurgitation. IABP is a short term procedure pending either definitive surgery, such as for unstable angina and regurgitation, or resolution of the problem, such as seen in cardiogenic shock. IABP assist devices are being used less frequently since the modern, sophisticated surgical intervention is readily available. For unstable angina, an angioplasty or a CABG might be performed. For mitral regurgitation, a heart valve replacement or repair might be performed. |
| treatment: | IABP are usually inserted within an artery in the groin area, called the femoral artery. The pump device is then passed up towards the heart into the aorta. There are two types of IABP, continuous flow devices and pulsatile devices. Continuous flow devices are smaller and more streamline but have a high incidence of breaking up blood cells termed hemolysis. The pulsatile devices are less damaging to the red blood cells but are more complex and larger. |
| prevention: | The risk of any assist device include wound infection at the entry site, infection involving the device leading to sepsis as well as removal of the device, blockage of blood flow to the leg supplied by the femoral artery leading to possible gangrene. |
Last updated 8/3/2009