title: Spontaneous rupture of an intra-aortic balloon pump.
abstract: Circulatory assistance with an intraaortic balloon pump is not free from risks and complications. Among the latter, rupture is extremely rare. We report a case of spontaneous rupture of an intraaortic balloon, which occurred after 29 h of counterpulsation in a patient with cardiogenic shock following an acute myocardial infarction. The probable cause of the rupture was the constant abrasion and eventual perforation of the balloon membrane by a sharp calcified aortic plaque.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001243:Assisted Circulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy