Unique Complications Associated With the Subclavian Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump

Abstract

The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), which has been in use for more than 50 years, is one of the most common forms of mechanical circulatory support, with an estimated 200,000 inserted annually worldwide.1,2 Although commonly inserted through a femoral arteriotomy, the increasing usage of the IABP as a bridge-to-transplantation (BTT) in patients with advanced heart failure has led to the development of alternative sites, such as the subclavian (SCA) or axillary artery. This technique decreases the risk of infection and allows for ambulation, which limits deconditioning, all of which facilitate long-term use.