Arterial Compliance is an Independent Factor Predicting Acute Hemodynamic Performance of Intra-aortic Balloon Counterpulsation

Abstract

Data concerning the effect of arterial compliance (AC) on hemodynamics during intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABC) are lacking. This study examines the effect of AC on acute hemodynamics induced by IABC in 15 patients with post-infarction cardiogenic shock. AC was estimated by aortic pulse wave analysis using the reflection time index (RTI). Measurements were obtained once per day during IABC. The % reduction in systolic aortic pressure (ΔSAP), end-diastolic aortic pressure (ΔEDAP) and the peak aortic diastolic augmentation (PADA) were used as performance indices of IABC; 107 sets of measurements were obtained. Multivariate analysis indicated an independent association of each IABC performance index with AC (p<0.05). A high AC group (RTI≤20.6%, n=40) and a low AC group (RTI>20.6%, n=67) were obtained. ΔSAP, ΔEDAP and PADA were significantly higher in the low AC group by almost 75%, 54.6% and 11,3% (p<0.03), while arterial blood pressure did not significantly differ. Arterial compliance is an independent factor affecting hemodynamics during IABC. RTI values higher than 20.6% may predict a better acute hemodynamic response to IABC.