Transthoracic intraaortic balloon usage

Abstract

lntraaortic balloon usage is increasing in left ventricular failure situations. Especially in cardiac surgery, intraaortic balloon becomes the 1irst choice of mechanical support systems when the patients could not be weaned cardiopulmonary bypass. The most frequent way of insertion is transfemoral route. However sometimes it is impossible to insert the balloon transfemorally especially in peripheral vascular disease situations. So altarnate ways of inserting the intraaortic balloon is needed. in Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Centre we inserted intraaortic balloon transthoracically in 5 cases. Mean time of duration was 3 days and when compared with transfemoral route, no difference was dedected in the efficiency of the counterpulsation. However when the complications were compared, more serious complication could take place with transthoracic route. Our current recommendation is to use transthoracic route only in suitable cases when transfemoral route could not be used.