Does juxtamesenteric placement of intra‐aortic balloon interrupt superior mesenteric flow?

To assess influences of intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) on superior mesenteric flow, 15 postoperative patients were examined, in whom distal aspects of balloons were distal to the superior mesenteric artery. Superior mesenteric flow velocity-time integral in systole (IntS), that in diastole (IntD), and the sum of IntS and IntD (IntS+IntD) were determined on and off IABP (IABP ON-OFF test). The same parameters were obtained with balloon inflating on every other beat (IABP 1:2 test). The cardiac cycle with balloon inflation during diastole was defined as "1:2 ON," and the cardiac cycle without balloon inflation during diastole was defined as "1:2 OFF." (1) IABP ON-OFF test. IABP increased IntS (p less than 0.01), IntD (p less than 0.01), IntS+IntD (p less than 0.01), and cardiac output (p less than 0.05). The increments in IntS, IntD and IntS+IntD on IABP are attributed largely to an increased in cardiac output. (2) IABP 1:2 test. IntS during 1:2 OFF was greater than IntS during 1:2 ON (p less than 0.01), whereas IntD during 1:2 OFF was smaller than IntD during 1:2 ON (p less than 0.01). There was no significant difference in IntS+IntD between 1:2 ON and 1:2 OFF. These data suggest that juxtamesenteric balloon placement did not interrupt the arterial inflow of a superior mesenteric artery.