Dick Petra, Mlekusch Wolfgang, Delle-Karth Georg, Nikfardjam Mariam, Schillinger Martin, Heinz Gottfried
Department of Angiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Angiology. 2009 Apr-May;60(2):235-41. doi: 10.1177/0003319708319782. Epub 2008 Jul 3.
The authors investigated the incidence of critical limb ischemia (CLI) in 187 patients with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) support during a 6-year study period and determined risk factors and long-term outcome (median 5 years) after discharge from a cardiac intensive care unit. Cardiogenic shock following acute myocardial infarction was the predominant cause of IABP support. CLI occurred in 10% of the patients after IABP implantation. Nevertheless, in light of the overall high mortality in this patient population, CLI seems not a primary concern. Furthermore, its incidence significantly decreased during recent years. Duration of IABP support was a significant predictor for CLI.
