Influences of Intraaortic Balloon Pumping on Peripheral Hemodynamics

The influences of intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) on peripheral hemodynamics were assessed by Doppler techniques. The subjects were 21 patients requiring postoperative IABP support to control low cardiac output state. The flow velocity-time integral in systole (IntS) and that in diastole (IntD) were measured from the left common carotid, superior mesenteric, and terminal aortic flow patterns, and the sum of IntS and IntD (IntS + IntD) was calculated on and off IABP. IABP increased cardiac output significantly (p < 0.01). 1. Left common carotid flow. IABP increased IntS significantly (p < 0.01). Neither IntD nor IntS + IntD changed significantly with IABP. 2. Superior mesenteric flow. IABP increased IntD significantly (p < 0.01). Both IntS and IntS + IntD remained unchanged with IABP. 3. Terminal aortic flow. IntS, IntD, and IntS + IntD did not change significantly with IABP. The authors' data 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.