Intraaortic balloon pumping in the treatment of low cardiac output following open heart surgery--immediate results and long-term prognosis.

From 1979 through 1986, 90 patients required intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) due to low cardiac output complicating open heart surgery. Preoperatively, functional class III or IV was present in 92%; in patients with coronary artery disease (n = 54), three-vessel or left main disease was found in 72%; patients with valvular disease (n = 37) generally had multiple surgical procedures or valve re-replacement performed. Intra-IABP mortality was 49% (n = 44) and 30-day mortality 61% (n = 55). The latter figure decreased from 75% in 1979-81 to 53% in 1985-86. Cumulative 5-year survival was 22%. Logistic regression analysis identified as independent predictors of 30 day mortality the necessity for adjuvant treatment with the more powerful "pressure drugs" isoprenaline/noradrenaline, number of DC-defibrillations, functional classes III-IV, and chronic left ventricular failure. Different combinations of these risk factors identified different patient groups with 30-day mortalities ranging from 100% to 0%. The risk factors reflected both acute cardiac failure probably due to severe ischemia and chronic failure due to advanced primary disease. Taking the high-risk composition of the material into account, a 5-year survival of 22% cannot be regarded as discouraging. Continued employment of IABP treatment in open heart surgery, using an aggressive approach coupled with individualized inotropic support, seems justified.