Vascular complications from intraaortic balloons: risk analysis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of and predictors for vascular complications in patients who required perioperative intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) support.


METHODS
Data from 580 patients collected with a retrospective review were statistically analyzed with 25 perioperative parameters, and significant variables were evaluated with multivariate analysis. These data were also statistically compared with data from a 1983 study from our institution.


RESULTS
Vascular complications occurred in 72 patients (12.4%). The three aortic perforations were fatal. Ipsilateral leg ischemia occurred in 69 patients. Of these, ischemia was resolved in 82% of patients by IABP removal (21), thrombectomy (21), vascular repair (13), fasciotomy (2), or without intervention (2). Six patients died with the intraaortic balloon in place. Four patients required amputation for ischemia, but all survived.


CONCLUSIONS
Vascular complications were not predictive of operative death (p = 0.26). Risk analyses with 25 perioperative parameters revealed that history of peripheral vascular disease, female sex, history of smoking, and postoperative insertion were independent predictors of vascular complications. However, most risk for vascular complications cannot be explained by these factors because of a low R2 value. Compared with the results of our 1983 study, the incidence of IABP-related complications has not changed, but the severity of complications has decreased significantly, and IABP-induced death has decreased significantly.
Barnett
M G
MG
Department of Surgery, St. Louis University Medical Center, MO 63110-0250.
Swartz
M T
MT
Peterson
G J
GJ
Naunheim
K S
KS
Pennington
D G
DG
Vaca
K J
KJ
Fiore
A C
AC
McBride
L R
LR
Peigh
P
P
Willman
V L
VL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate