Mechanical techniques of circulation support: a percutaneous intra-aortic balloon device.

As medical indications for intra-aortic balloon (IAB) pumping expand, many physicians without surgical expertise are faced with the decision to institute circulatory support. Accordingly, to facilitate rapid establishment of cardiac assist and to obviate the need for operative insertion and removal, a 40-cc single-chambered device was designed for percutaneous insertion by the Seldinger technique. Hemodynamic augmentation produced by the percutaneous balloon is similar to that obtained with conventional IAB. It appears that complications related to IAB insertion may be decreased by the percutaneous method.