Letters To ‘Surfers: On The Relevancy of IABP Therapy…

Editor’s Note:

Was just going through some mail and stuff- and saw a few comments that I thought were interesting and would like to share.

Please respond in the comments section of this post…

Frank

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Various questions on the relevancy of IABP Therapy

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Hi Frank,

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My name is Rahul Barwal. I am a trained perfusionist from a Narayana Health Hospital in Bangalore, India.

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Currently I am working with Maquet Medical as clinical specialist for IABP as well as assistance in ECMO. My question to you is What is the role of IABP in these days where the other PLVAD’s have come like impella???

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Dear Rahul-

First of all- thank you for writing to ‘Surfers- and posing your question.

You have a good point questioning the efficacy and need for the IABP as a salvage or rescue therapy for LV dysfunction or treatment for  myocardial stunning.

During my tenure as a perfusionist, I definitely have observed a decrease in IABP utilization, probably due to improved interventional cardiac cath lab options, as well as improvement in intraoperative myocardial preservation during CPB.  Most often they are still an excellent prophylaxis for LM disease or LM equivalents (Cx, RCA, LAD).

I do feel that is is not obsolete and has it’s niche in our world.  I have always felt that afterload reduction was the true underlying benefit of diastolic counterpulsation devices.

I am not familiar with the class 1b or class 2b classification systems- can you please clarify?  As well, some insight into the SHOCK trials would very beneficial to those of us unfamiliar with them.

Any opinions out there?

Please leave them in the comments section of this post-

Thanks 🙂

Frank