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Updated: Apr 27, 2026
The Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
Published on: February 5, 2021
Intestinal cholesterol embolism resulting from intra-aortic balloon pumping: a case report
Satoshi Yamaguchi1, Masanori Kakazu, Arasaki Osamu
1Department of Cardiology, Tomishiro Central Hospital, 25 Ueta, Tomishiro-shi, Okinawa, Japan. satoshi-yamaguchi@umin.ac.jp.
Introduction:
Intra-aortic balloon pumping is used in elective percutaneous coronary intervention for increasing coronary blood flow. However, intra-aortic balloon pumping may decrease visceral blood flow and cause mesenteric ischemia by visceral artery obstruction.
Case Presentation:
We report the case of a 79-year-old Asian man in whom elective percutaneous coronary intervention was performed with intra-aortic balloon pumping. He died from mesenteric ischemia 25 hours after the procedure. Microscopic findings showed that intra-aortic balloon pumping had detached the aortic plaque, breaking it into systemic emboli, leading to subsequent intestinal ischemia and necrosis.
Conclusions:
We conclude that intra-aortic balloon pumping can cause an intestinal cholesterol embolism.
