49. Nursing care of patients during intraaortic balloon pumping

Abstract

Caring for patients with intraaortic balloon pumps (IABPs) is a unique nursing challenge in the cardiovascular recovery and intensive care units. The primary purpose of IABP is the support of the failing heart by simultaneously increasing myocardial oxygen supply and decreasing myocardial oxygen demand. Briefly, the intraaortic balloon pump is a specific and aggressive form of care for patients in cardiogenic shock. In-depth physiologic principles that involve a sound understanding of cardiovascular complications, with indications for physiologic and psychologic interventions, are necessary to aid the nurse during this critical period, moreover the cardiovascular nurses caring for these patients require skills and knowledge that enable prompt recognition and treatment of sometimes life-threatening complications associated with balloon pump therapy. Briefly, the intraaortic balloon pump is a specific and aggressive form of care for patients in cardiogenic shock. From the experience acquired in the treatment of cardiogenic shock and in the use of the IABP, it has emerged the unavoidable need to resort as soon as possible to IABP and intensive care to avoid multi-organ damages highly associated to mortality. The ICU nursing professional, who works with more and more sophisticated technologies and devices, has always to be acquainted with current literature, in order to ensure a better nursing care and to reduce complications.