Influences of intra-aortic balloon pumping on peripheral hemodynamics

The influences of intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) on peripheral dynamics were assessed by Doppler echocardiography. The subjects were 20 patients requiring IABP support, postoperatively, to control low cardiac output state. The flow velocity integral in systole (Int S) and that in diastole (Int D) were measured from left common carotid, superior mesenteric, and terminal aortic flow pattern, and the sum of Int S and Int D (Int S + Int D) was calculated with and without balloon pumping. 1) IABP increased cardiac output significantly (p less than 0.01). 2) Common carotid flow: IABP increased Int S significantly (p less than 0.01), but neither Int S nor Int S + Int D changed significantly with IABP. 3) Superior mesenteric flow: IABP increased Int D significantly (p less than 0.01), but both Int S and Int S + Int D remained unchanged with IABP. 4) Terminal aortic flow: None of Int S, Int D and Int S + Int D changed significantly with IABP. These results suggest that the carotid area can receive much of the increase in cardiac output in systole with IABP, and that the superior mesenteric area can receive much of the volume of blood displaced in the aorta by balloon inflation in diastole.