Ascending aorta insertion of the dual-chambered intraaortic balloon for counterpulsation during cardiac operations.

A patient with left ventricular power failure after aortocoronary saphenous vein bypass was successfully managed by intraaortic dual-chambered balloon counterpulsation through the ascending aorta. This insertion route reverses the orientation of the spherical distal chamber, which inflates early in diastole and partially occludes the aorta. This position achieved an effective augmentation pressure during left ventricular diastole and reduced arterial end-diastolic pressure considerably. The technique of insertion and events at operation and postoperatively are discussed.