What is the role of Intra-aortic balloon pump therapy in patients with acute on chronic heart failure and cardiogenic shock?

Despite over 50 years of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use, the role of this device to treat patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) is not clearly defined. Based on the results of the IABP-SHOCK II trial,1 recommendations to treat acute and chronic heart failure (HF) complicated by CS with an IABP are either lacking or clearly state to not use this therapy.2 In this issue of the Journal, Fried et al. report the largest single center examination of IABP use in this specific patient population.3
Source: The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation - Category: Transplant Surgery Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research