ABSTRACT
Intraaortic balloon pumping Intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) supports both ventricles, decreasing afterload and increasing diastolic perfusion pressure. The latter mechanism may play a pivotal role in patients who have severe multivessel disease, with limited vascular reserve, impaired autoregulation, and consequent pressure-dependent coronary flow in several perfusion territories. These beneficial effects occur without an increase in oxygen demand. On the contrary, the decrease in cardiac workload improves myocardial energy balance by up to 15%.1
