Risks associated with intraaortic balloon pumping in patients with and without diabetes mellitus

Between 1967 and 1982, intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) was attempted in 733 patients. Of these, 132 were diabetic: 51 patients were managed with diet alone, 46 patients took oral hypoglycemic agents and 35 patients required insulin. Vascular complications associated with IABP occurred in 34% of the insulin-dependent diabetics, in 18% of other diabetics and in 14% of nondiabetic patients. Infectious complications were 37, 22 and 25%, respectively. Seventy-five diabetic patients (57%) were discharged alive from the hospital after balloon pumping, essentially the same proportion as among nondiabetic patients (58%). It is concluded that although diabetics incur a higher complication rate, IABP is not contraindicated.