WORKING PRESSURE FOR FULL BALLOON INFLATION DURING INTRAAORTIC BALLOON PUMPING

With changes in heart rate and mean aortic pressure, an intraaortic ba lloon (IAB) works with incomplete inflation. The effects of initial pe ak positive pressure and plateau holding positive pressure on IAB volu me were investigated and minimum pressures necessary to inflate an IAB to a desired volume were established with a standard IAB catheter (Da tascope type, 9.5 Fr, 40 ml). Initial peak pressure greater than 200 m m Hg was adequate to attain the desired volume of the IAB. Plateau pos itive pressure should be altered in accordance with hemodynamic change s.