title: Impact of prophylactic intra-aortic balloon counter-pulsation on postoperative outcome in high-risk cardiac surgery patients: a multicentre, propensity-score analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this multicentre study was to determine whether the prophylactic use of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) translates into better early and long-term results in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2000 to March 2009, 6121 high-risk patients (EuroSCORE >8), at six different institutions, underwent cardiac surgery. Propensity-score computer matching was performed, based on 10 variables representing patients characteristics and preoperative risk factors to correct for and minimise selection bias (Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit, p=0.3; c=0.94). A total of 956 patients were successfully matched and consisted of 478 pairs either undergoing preoperative IABP (group A) or not receiving IABP preoperatively (group B).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate logistic regression (odds ratio) revealed that group B had a 64% higher risk of in-hospital mortality (p=0.001), 57% higher risk of 30-day mortality (p=0.003), 45% higher risk of perioperative myocardial infarction (p=0.01), 57% higher risk of postoperative low-output syndrome (p=0.003), 45% higher risk of intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (p=0.001) and 44% higher risk of hospital length of stay (p=0.001). Patients in group A showed, at follow-up, significant improvements in left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (p<0.001), wall-motion score index (p<0.001) and LV dimensions (p<0.001). Five- and 8-year survivals did not differ between groups (5-year survival: 91.7 ± 3.1% vs 95 ± 2.1% in groups A and B, respectively, log-rank p=0.34; 8-year survival: 84.3 ± 5.5% vs 85.9 ± 6.1% in groups A and B, respectively, log-rank p=0.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prophylactic IABP support, in this multicentre experience, was showed to enhance perioperative management and outcome of high-risk cardiac surgery patients.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Unit, Civic Hospital, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy. roberto_lorusso@iol.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorusso
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gelsomino
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carella
authors.forename: Ugolino
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Livi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mariscalco
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Onorati
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Attilio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Renzulli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome