title: A survey on the use of intra-aortic balloon pump in cardiac surgery.
abstract: Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is an established tool in the management of cardiac dysfunction in cardiac surgery. The best timing for IABP weaning is unknown and varies greatly among cardiac centers. The authors investigated the differences in IABP management among 66 cardiac surgery centers performing 40,675 cardiac surgery procedures in the 12-month study period. The centers were contacted through email, telephone, or in person interview. IABP management was very heterogeneous in this survey: In 43% centers it was routinely removed on the first postoperative day, and in 34% on the second postoperative day. In 50% centers, it was routinely removed after extubation of the patients whereas in 15% centers it was removed while the patients were sedated and mechanically ventilated. In 66% centers, patients were routinely receiving pharmacological inotropic support at the time of removal of IABP. The practice of decreasing IABP support was also heterogeneous: 57% centers weaned by reducing the ratio of beat assistance whereas 34% centers weaned by reducing balloon volume. We conclude that the management of IABP is heterogeneous and there is a need for large prospective studies on the management of IABP in cardiac surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bignami
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tritapepe
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pasin
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meroni
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corno
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Landoni
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guarracino
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zangrillo
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*