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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
The Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
Published on: February 5, 2021
Use of intraaortic balloon counter pulsation in a patient with tortuous aorta
Murali Chakravarthy1, Vivek Jawali
1Wockhardt Heart Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka-76, India. mailchakravarthy@gmail.com
Insights
Intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) use in patients with a tortuous aorta is debated. This case demonstrates successful IABP insertion in a patient with a tortuous abdominal aorta, supporting cardiovascular function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Surgery
Background:
- Intraaortic balloon pulsation (IABP) is a critical treatment for left ventricular failure.
- A tortuous descending thoracic and abdominal aorta is typically a relative contraindication for IABP insertion due to potential complications.
Observation:
- A patient with acute myocardial infarction and a post-infarct ventricular septal defect presented with severe left ventricular failure.
- During coronary angiography, significant tortuosity of the abdominal aorta was observed.
Findings:
- Despite the aortic tortuosity, an IABP catheter was successfully inserted under fluoroscopic guidance.
- The IABP effectively supported the patient's cardiovascular system.
Implications:
- This case suggests that IABP insertion may be feasible and beneficial in select patients with tortuous aortas.
- Further discussion and research are warranted to establish best practices and minimize risks associated with IABP in such cases.
Abstract:
The intraaortic balloon pulsation (IABP) catheter is commonly used to treat left ventricular failure. The abnormality of the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta is considered as a relative contraindication for its insertion. We present here a patient with acute myocardial infarction with a post-infarct ventricular septal defect who presented with left ventricular failure. During coronary angiography, tortuous abdominal aorta was noted and IABP catheter was inserted under fluoroscopic guidance to support the cardiovascular system. This case is reported to encourage discussion on the use of IABP catheters in patients with tortuous aorta and avoidance of events described.
