LEFT INTRAVENTRICULAR BALLOON PUMP OPTIMIZATION DURING INTRACTABLE CARDIAC-ARREST

This work aims to determine optimal balloon shape and volume during le ft intraventricular balloon pumping (IABP) in the fibrillating dog hea rt. A balloon volume equal to the left ventricular end-diastolic volum e (LVEDV) maintained a higher systolic aortic pressure and flow (106.4 +/- 2.7 mmHg and 84.7 +/- 2.35 ml/kg/min, x +/- SEM, respectively) th an a 25% smaller (97.8 +/- 3.3 mmHg, P = 0.002 and 63.7 +/- 4.1 ml/Kg/ min, P = 0.002, respectively) or a 25% larger balloon (87.4 +/- 2.3 mm Hg, P = 0.002 and 70.9 +/- 3.4 ml/kg/min, P = 0.002, respectively). Am ong 5 different balloon shapes tested a pear-shaped balloon inflated f rom the apex to the base of the left ventricle induced the highest (P varying from 0.042 to 0.01, compared to the remaining balloon shapes) systolic aortic pressure and flow (104.6 +/- 4.5 mmHg and 77.9 +/- 1.7 mg/kg/min, respectively). In conclusion, a pear shaped balloon, infla ted to a volume equal to the LVEDV, from the apex to the base of the l eft ventricle, induced an optimal hemodynamic effect during LVBP.