European heart journal
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European heart journal · Mar 1998
Complications of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation. The role of catheter size and duration of support in a multivariate analysis of risk.
The aim of this study was to assess the risk of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation and to identify clinical and procedural variables that would predict complications. ⋯ The rate of percutaneous intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation complications was thus significantly reduced by employing thinner catheters. It was at an acceptable level for 9.5 French catheters, where a long duration of counterpulsation emerged as the most significant factor associated with complications. Whether using even thinner catheters in combination with a sheathless implantation technique further minimizes the risk of counterpulsation remains to be seen.