title: Effect of increased intra-aortic balloon pressure on catheter volume: relationship to changing altitudes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of intra-aortic balloon membrane response under increasing intracatheter pressure by indexing these data to associated barometric pressures that occur with changes in altitude.
  
  
  METHODS
  A static compliance test was performed to assess the effect of internal pressure on intra-aortic balloon compliance (simulating helium gas within the intra-aortic balloon affected by barometric pressure). Testing consisted of incrementally increasing pressure within eight percutaneous intra-aortic balloons from four leading manufacturers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The University of Utah Department of Mechanical Engineering Laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  No patients were involved. This study was a bench test lab study.
  
  
  METHODS
  No patient interventions were utilized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results for all trials showed a curvilinear relationship between intracatheter pressure and balloon volume. Clinically significant balloon expansion data were obtained, with manufacturer variation observed at moderate-to-high pressures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results of this study, recommendations for operation of intra-aortic balloon pumps during altitude ascent and descent are proposed, from which individual institutional protocols may be developed.
authors.affiliation: University of Utah Medical Center, Salt Lake City.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Mertlich
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Quaal
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Borgmeier
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: DeVries
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D003187:Compliance; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping; D008961:Models, Structural; D011312:Pressure