Van de Wal H J, Bennink G B, Benatar A A
Pediatric Heart Center, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 1995;9(10):602-3. doi: 10.1016/s1010-7940(05)80014-4.
A serious complication was seen following insertion of an intra-aortic balloon pump in the ascending aorta in a pediatric patient. The catheter initially coursed to the left subclavian artery from which it folded upon before finding its way in the descending aorta. We recommend that a suitably curved J-tip guidewire be used to guide the IABP balloons distal to the aortic arch into the descending aorta, so as to avoid potentially fatal complications.
