Intraaortic balloon entrapment--a rare complication of intraaortic balloon pump

Intraaortic balloon entrapment syndrome is a rare complication of intraaortic balloon catheter. The leakage of blood into the balloon produces clots if the catheter is not immediately removed. Later removal is usually not possible and can be complicated by laceration of the aorta or its branches. The authors report a seventy year old woman who had an intraaortic balloon inserted via her right femoral artery because of heart failure secondary to severe coronary artery stenosis. Blood appeared in the balloon before emergency coronary artery bypass grafting, but the catheter was left to be removed after surgery. After successful triple coronary bypass grafting, pulling the catheter resulted in hypovolemic shock secondary to avulsion of the right common iliac artery. Immediate laparotomy and replaement of the torn artery with prosthetic vascular graft was successfully performed. This rare and life threatening complication of intraaortic balloon catheter can be prevented by immediate removal of the catheter when blood appears in the balloon.