title: Short intra-aortic balloon pump in a swine model of myocardial ischaemia: a proof-of-concept study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This proof-of-concept study examined the haemodynamic performance as well as the coronary and visceral organ perfusion using a new short balloon for intra-aortic counterpulsation (IABP) in a swine model of myocardial ischaemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen healthy pigs underwent 120-min ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by 6 h of reperfusion, and they were randomly assigned into 3 groups undergoing IABP implantation with a 35-ml short balloon (n = 6), a 40-ml short balloon (n = 6) or no IABP implantation (controls, n = 6). Haemodynamics, and visceral and coronary flows were measured at baseline (t0), at 2 h of ischaemia (t1) and every hour thereafter until 6 h of reperfusion (from tR1 to tR6), respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mesenteric and renal flows increased significantly at tR1 only in the IABP groups (all, P < 0.001) and were significantly higher than controls throughout the reperfusion periods (P < 0.001). Coronary systolic and diastolic blood flows increased only at tR1 in the IABP groups (all, P < 0.001) but were higher than controls at tR1-tR6. The IABP was associated with enhanced haemodynamics compared with controls. No difference was detected using different balloon volumes (all, P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new short balloon significantly increased visceral flow, enhanced haemodynamics and improved coronary circulation during reperfusion following myocardial ischaemia in our experimental model.
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy sandro.gelsomino@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gelsomino
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Pieter W J
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Lozekoot
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorusso
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Monique M J
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Parise
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Matteucci
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lucà
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: La Meir
authors.affiliation: Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Franco
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Gensini
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jos G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Maessen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping / Q000379:methods*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine
keywords: Intra-aortic counterpulsation; Ischaemia; Myocardial infarction