Effect of increased intra-aortic balloon pressure on catheter volume: relationship to changing altitudes.

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of intra-aortic balloon membrane response under increasing intracatheter pressure by indexing these data to associated barometric pressures that occur with changes in altitude. A static compliance test was performed to assess the effect of internal pressure on intra-aortic balloon compliance (simulating helium gas within the intra-aortic balloon affected by barometric pressure). Testing consisted of incrementally increasing pressure within eight percutaneous intra-aortic balloons from four leading manufacturers. The University of Utah Department of Mechanical Engineering Laboratory. No patients were involved. This study was a bench test lab study. No patient interventions were utilized. Results for all trials showed a curvilinear relationship between intracatheter pressure and balloon volume. Clinically significant balloon expansion data were obtained, with manufacturer variation observed at moderate-to-high pressures. Based on the results of this study, recommendations for operation of intra-aortic balloon pumps during altitude ascent and descent are proposed, from which individual institutional protocols may be developed.