PLAQUE ABRASION AND INTRAAORTIC BALLOON LEAK

Study objective: To determine and correct cause of high incidence of intra-aortic balloon leaks (ruptures). Design: Epidemiologic investigation of factors associated with intra-aortic balloon leak, and sequential application of corrective measures evaluated by continued concurrent data collection. Setting: Thirty-four-bed ICU in 598-bed tertiary care medical center. Intercentions: Procedure changed to place smaller balloons (34 mL instead of 40 mL) in patients less than 163 cm in height. Measurements and results: Demographic and clinical data on all patients showed no change after initial interventions, followed by significant drop (8 to 2%) in aorta. incidence of balloon leak when smaller, shorter balloons were placed in shorter patients. Conclusions: Placement of larger, longer balloons in patients increases risk of perforation of balloon by calcific plaque in the distal thoracic and abdominal aorta.