In-hospital mortality associated with the use of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation

We analyzed in-hospital mortality for patients treated with intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation from the Benchmark Counterpulsation Outcomes Registry (n = 25,136). In-hospital mortality was higher in patients who received only medical interventions (32.5%) than in those who underwent percutaneous (18.8%) and surgical (19.2%) interventions, and was greatest in the first days after hospital admission for all 3 intervention types. Therefore, diagnostic evaluation and treatment decisions should be made as early as possible, and physicians should be aware of associated risk factors in making choices for patients. (C) 2004 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.