Prognosis After the Implantation of an Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump in Cardiac Surgery Calculated With a New Score

BackgroundOver the past decade, the use of a ventricular-assist device (VAD) in patients with postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock has resulted in hospital discharge rates of 25% to 40% and is improving. Nevertheless, indications for and timing of the implantation of a VAD in patients who have received an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) remain unclear. Methods and ResultsFrom July 1996 to March 2000, 391 patients with cardiac low-output syndrome who underwent open-heart surgery and had an IABP implanted were analyzed in a retrospective pilot study. The perioperative mortality was 34% (133 patients). Clinical parameters were analyzed 1 hour after IABP support began. Statistical multivariate analysis showed that patients with an adrenaline requirement higher than 0.5 &mgr;g · kg−1 · min−1, a left atrial pressure >15 mm Hg, urine output <100 mL/h, and mixed venous saturation (SvO2) <60% had poor outcomes. Using this data, we developed an IABP score (0 to 5 points) to predict survival early after IABP implantation in cardiac surgery. We evaluated our score by monitoring another 101 patients as a control group prospectively. Additionally, 210 patients who received coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) exclusively were analyzed. All investigations confirmed the validity of the score. ConclusionsThe IABP score can predict survival early after IABP implantation. In patients with a high IABP score, implantation of a VAD should be considered.