Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
Background of Technology
Before tThe intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) became a successful piece of technology, it was first introduced by Harken in 1958 in hopes of treating left heart failure (IABPumpers, 2006). Harken thought that by removing a certain amount of blood from both femoral arteries during systole, and rapidly replacing it during diastole, he could augment the cardiac output and increase coronary perfusion. However, this pumping system led to extreme hemolysis and turbulence with failure to increase coronary blood flow (IABPumpers, 2006).
Soon after, Moulopoulus from Cleveland Clinic developed the first successful IABP in the 1960’s. This newly developed IABP was timed to inflate and deflate according to the phases of the cardiac cycle, and was first used in a clinical practice in 1968 by the Kantrowiz’s group (IABPumpers, 2006). Initially the placement of the IABP was done through surgical grafting due to the large size of the catheter, but as this technology improved through the years, the catheters became small enough to be placed non-surgically at patient’s bedside (IABPumpers, 2006). Now, with more than 70,000 balloon catheters inserted each year in the U.S, IABP therapy is known to be the mostas a common treatment for cardiogenic shock (Vales, Kanei, Ephrem, & Misra, 2011).
Purpose of Technology
The most important purpose of the IABP therapy is to increase cardiac output (Vales, Kanei, Ephrem, & Misra, 2011). As stated previously, tThe IABP is timed to inflate and deflate according to phases of the individual’s cardiac cycle (IABPumpers, 2006). Inflation of the balloon occurs at diastole, which displaces the blood from the aorta to the coronary arteries and the vital organs. Deflation occurs just before systole and left ventricular ejection. This deflation along with the blood displacement during diastole leads to decreased afterload and pressure in the
References: IABPumpers. (2006). History. Educating Nurses Online in IABP Therapy. Retrieved from http://www.iabpumpers.com/history.htm Insertion of intra-aortic balloon catheter (2005) Lewis, P., Ward, D., & Courtney, M. (2009). The intra-aortic balloon pump in heart failure management: implications for nursing practice. Australian Critical Care, 22(3), 125-131. doi:10.1016/j.aucc.2009.06.005 Nickson, C O 'Donovan, K. (2011). Intra-aortic balloon pump therapy. World Of Irish Nursing & Midwifery, 19(2), 37-39. Vales, L., Kanei., Ephrem, G., & Misra, D. (2011). Intra-aortic balloon pump use and outcomes with current therapies. Journal of Invasive Cardiology, 23(3), 116-119. Western Sydney Health Services. (2004). Intensive care evidence based practice: Intra aortic balloon pump Williams, L. (2005). Intra-aortic balloon pumping. Retrieved from http://intensivecare.hsnet.nsw.gov.au/five/doc/educationpackages/liverpool/liverpool_SDL_IABP.pdf