Hemodynamic effects of new intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation timing methods in patients: A multicenter evaluation

Background: To test whether later intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) deflation approaching or simultaneous with left ventricular ejection would improve hemodynamics and myocardial efficiency with the use of new balloon deflation methods, 4 IABP timing techniques were evaluated in 43 patients. Methods and Results: Later balloon deflation produced significantly greater percentage changes in mean aortic pressure (6% vs 1%), systolic pressure time index (-27% vs -20%), diastolic pressure time index (35% vs 19%), and the systolic pressure-time index/diastolic pressure-time index ratio (97% vs 51%), respectively. However, these changes increased peak systolic pressure (-15% vs -11%). Cardiac output and stroke volume indexes were not significantly altered over the 4 settings. Conclusions: These data suggest that systemic hemodynamics and myocardial efficiency may be improved by later balloon deflation approaching left ventricular ejection in comparison to conventional IABP timing.