Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 28, 2026
The Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
Published on: February 5, 2021
Risk factors for intraaortic balloon pump use in coronary artery bypass surgery
Habib Cakir1, Hasan Uncu2, Ozcan Gur3
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Katip Celebi University Ataturk Education and Training Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Insights
Intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) use in coronary artery bypass surgery is associated with significant risk factors including recent myocardial infarction and emergency surgery. These factors increase complications and mortality rates.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Medical Devices
- Clinical Outcomes
Background:
- The intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) is a mechanical circulatory support device.
- Its use in coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) aims to improve outcomes in high-risk patients.
- Understanding IABP-specific risk factors in CABG is crucial for patient selection and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the risk factors associated with intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) utilization during coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG).
- To present the authors' clinical experience and outcomes of IABP use in CABG patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 1094 patients undergoing CABG between January 2009 and December 2011.
- Comparison of 17 patients who received IABP (Group 1) versus 1077 patients who did not (Group 2).
Main Results:
- IABP use was observed in 1.55% of isolated CABG patients.
- Group 1 (IABP users) showed significantly higher rates of preoperative myocardial infarction, left main coronary artery stenosis, and emergency surgery.
- Group 1 also experienced longer cardiopulmonary bypass times, increased need for inotropics, higher reoperation rates for bleeding, longer ICU stays, and a significantly higher mortality rate (29.4% vs. 1.2%).
Conclusions:
- Preoperative myocardial infarction, left main coronary artery stenosis, and emergency surgery are identified as critical risk factors for IABP use in CABG.
- Prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time is also a significant risk factor associated with IABP utilization.
- These findings highlight the importance of careful patient selection for IABP in CABG to mitigate associated risks.
Objectives:
The study was aimed at investigating the risk factors of using an intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) in coronary artery bypass surgery and presenting the authors' clinical experience of IABP use.
Material And Methods:
The study included 1094 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery at the authors' clinic between January 2009 and December 2011. A comparison was made between 17 patients in whom an IABP was used and 1077 patients in whom it was not used.
Results:
An intraaortic balloon pump was used in 17 patients (1.55%) out of 1094 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass surgery. The ratio of patients who had had preoperative myocardial infarction within the preceding 30 days, left main coronary artery stenosis of more than 50% and emergency surgery in Group 1 were higher than in Group 2 (p < 0.05). The total cardiopulmonary bypass time of Group 1 was found to be longer than that of Group 2 (p < 0.05). The demand for inotropics after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass was greater in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p < 0.05). The need for reoperation (because of bleeding) was higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p < 0.05). The patients' stay on the intensive care unit was longer in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p < 0.05). Mortality rates were 29.4% in Group 1 and 1.2% in Group 2 (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Preoperative myocardial infarction within the preceding 30 days, left main coronary artery stenosis of more than 50%, emergency surgery and long cardiopulmonary bypass time are important risk factors for IABP use in coronary artery bypass surgery.
