Current intra-aortic balloon pump practice issues. Survey results

Patient care delivery has changed or has at least begun to change throughout institutions nationwide. Those who once regarded theory as a formulation for patient outcome have rendered it inefficient; as the practice of balloon pumping has expanded, many important questions have been raised surrounding the basis for procedures involving IABP. Nursing guidelines for correct IABP procedures are theoretically based procedures. Although it is influential, theory-based practice has proven to be an inefficient means for formulating current practice standards. The Ahern Gould and Stark Current Practice Survey exemplifies the uncertainties that surround the practice of IABP. The nationwide search for scientifically based IABP methods is realized as those surveyed present numerous questions, giving rise to clinical research directions for IABP practitioners.