[Complications of IABP in the postoperative management of open-heart surgery--a review of 108 cases in the last 10 years].

During the past decade from May 1978 to July 1988, intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) was used in a total of 108 patients following open-heart surgery at our department. Eleven complications depend on IABP have occurred in nine of theses patients, i.e. five of circulatory disorder on account of ischemia of the lower extremity ipsilateral to balloon catheter insertion, three of ischemia of the abdominal viscera, one of aorto-esophageal fistula, one of gas embolism resulting of balloon rupture and one of damage of the abdominal aorta caused by a Fogarty balloon catheter. Five of these patients died of these complications depend on IABP. Especially, four of five patients died of vascular accidents. These complications were due to operation of the balloon catheter or the driving unit, bat that was no complication related to insert of the balloon catheter. Then, we have to paid more careful attention to driving the intra-aortic balloon.