title: Complication of intra-aortic balloon pumping in a pediatric patient.
abstract: A serious complication was seen following insertion of an intra-aortic balloon pump in the ascending aorta in a pediatric patient. The catheter initially coursed to the left subclavian artery from which it folded upon before finding its way in the descending aorta. We recommend that a suitably curved J-tip guidewire be used to guide the IABP balloons distal to the aortic arch into the descending aorta, so as to avoid potentially fatal complications.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Heart Center, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Van de Wal
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Bennink
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Benatar
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology; D001020:Aortic Stenosis, Subvalvular / Q000601:surgery*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012086:Reoperation