This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Crockett, J. Articles by Bennett, J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Crockett, J. Articles by Bennett, J. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Compartment syndrome as a complication of intra-aortic balloon pumping

National Heart Hospital, London

B. Glenville

National Heart Hospital, London

JG Bennett

National Heart Hospital, London

Intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) is a well accepted therapy in low cardiac output states. The complications reported with the use of IABP are varied. Development of a swollen, tender calf and loss of sensation and/or function, yet retaining a warm limb with the palpable peripheral pulses during or immediately after IABP is one such complication. We believe that this represents compartment syndrome following temporary or partial ischaemia. We set out to measure the compartment pressure in 13 patients in whom IABP was used following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Our results show that the slit catheter method used in this study to measure compartment pressures gave reliable results, was easy to set up and use and provided early warning of compartment syndrome, thus facilitating early treatment and viability of all limbs affected.

Perfusion, Vol. 1, No. 3, 209-212 (1986)
DOI: 10.1177/026765918600100310


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?