title: Factors influencing outcomes of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation in elderly patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) is a mechanical cardiac-assist device that is used for cardiac support. There are no published reports about the use of IABP in elderly Chinese patients, especially for those over 80 years old. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical outcomes, influencing factors, and complications in patients ≥80 years old and requiring IABP.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective study of 134 consecutive patients who received IABP therapy. Based on age, we defined two groups; those ≥80 years old and those <80 years old.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall mortality was 41.8%. Patients ≥80 years old had higher mortality rates than those <80 years old (47.9% vs. 30.2%). Patients ≥80 years old had fewer successful revascularizations (45.8%) and more pulmonary infections (47.9%) than patients <80 years old (60.3% and 30.2%, respectively); these differences were statistically significant. The most common non-cardiac complication was pulmonary infection. Cardiogenic shock and pulmonary infection were risk factors for all-cause, in-hospital mortality, whereas revascularization success was a negative risk factor for the ≥80 years old patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IABP may be successfully and safely employed in patients ≥80 years old, having severe heart disease, with few complications. Patients ≥80 years old who need IABP therapy are less likely to have a successful revascularization and are more likely to develop pulmonary infections than patients <80 years old.
authors.affiliation: Medical School of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xue-ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hong-wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-ning
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies