Counterpulsation
A technique used to improve cardiac function
Counterpulsation is a medical technique used to enhance cardiac function by reducing the workload on the heart and improving coronary blood flow. This method is primarily used in patients with severe heart failure, myocardial infarction, or other conditions where the heart's ability to pump blood is compromised.
Mechanism of Action[edit | edit source]
Counterpulsation works by synchronizing with the cardiac cycle to reduce the heart's workload during systole and increase coronary perfusion during diastole. The most common form of counterpulsation is the Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), which involves the insertion of a balloon catheter into the aorta.
Intra-aortic Balloon Pump (IABP)[edit | edit source]
The IABP is inserted into the aorta via the femoral artery. The balloon inflates during diastole, increasing aortic pressure and enhancing coronary blood flow. During systole, the balloon deflates, reducing afterload and the heart's workload. This synchronized inflation and deflation help improve cardiac output and oxygen delivery to the myocardium.
Indications[edit | edit source]
Counterpulsation is indicated in several clinical scenarios, including:
- Acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock
- Severe heart failure
- Unstable angina
- Support during high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
- Bridge to more definitive therapies such as heart transplantation or ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation
Contraindications[edit | edit source]
While counterpulsation can be life-saving, it is contraindicated in certain situations, such as:
- Severe aortic regurgitation
- Aortic dissection
- Severe peripheral vascular disease
Complications[edit | edit source]
Potential complications of counterpulsation include:
- Vascular injury at the insertion site
- Thrombosis
- Infection
- Hemolysis
History[edit | edit source]
The concept of counterpulsation was first introduced in the 1950s, with the development of the intra-aortic balloon pump occurring in the 1960s. Since then, it has become a critical tool in the management of patients with severe cardiac dysfunction.
Also see[edit | edit source]
Cardiovascular disease A-Z
Most common cardiac diseases
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Cardiogenetic disorders
- Cardiomegaly
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Chronic rheumatic heart diseases
- Congenital heart defects
- Heart neoplasia
- Ischemic heart diseases
- Pericardial disorders
- Syndromes affecting the heart
- Valvular heart disease
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A[edit source]
- Accelerated idioventricular rhythm
- Acute decompensated heart failure
- Arteriosclerotic heart disease
- Athletic heart syndrome
- Atrial flutter
- Atrioventricular fistula
- Cardiovascular disease in Australia
- Autoimmune heart disease
B[edit source]
C[edit source]
- Ebb Cade
- Cardiac allograft vasculopathy
- Cardiac amyloidosis
- Cardiac asthma
- Cardiac tamponade
- Cardiogenic shock
- Cardiogeriatrics
- Cardiorenal syndrome
- Cardiotoxicity
- Carditis
- Coronary artery aneurysm
- Coronary artery anomaly
- Coronary artery disease
- Spontaneous coronary artery dissection
- Coronary artery ectasia
- Coronary occlusion
- Coronary steal
- Coronary thrombosis
- Coronary vasospasm
- Cœur en sabot
- Coxsackievirus-induced cardiomyopathy
D[edit source]
E[edit source]
H[edit source]
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
- Heart to Heart (1949 film)
- High-output heart failure
- Hyperdynamic precordium
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
I[edit source]
- Idiopathic giant-cell myocarditis
- Interventricular dyssynchrony
- Intraventricular dyssynchrony
- Isolated atrial amyloidosis
K[edit source]
L[edit source]
M[edit source]
- Mydicar
- Myocardial bridge
- Myocardial disarray
- Myocardial rupture
- Myocardial scarring
- Myocardial stunning
- Myocarditis
N[edit source]
O[edit source]
P[edit source]
- Papillary fibroelastoma
- Pathophysiology of heart failure
- Postpericardiotomy syndrome
- Pulmonary vein stenosis
R[edit source]
S[edit source]
- Saturated fat and cardiovascular disease
- SCAR-Fc
- Shone's syndrome
- Strain pattern
- Subacute bacterial endocarditis
- Sudden cardiac death of athletes
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
T[edit source]
V[edit source]
W[edit source]
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