The use of intra-aortic balloon pump after surgical treatment of DeBakey type I dissecting XXXX of the aorta.

@entity1 @entity439 @entity998
The case is reported of a sixty-four-year-old @entity1 with DeBakey type I aortic dissection in whom postoperative extensive intra-aortic balloon pumping was applied. Surgical repair involved replacing the ascending aorta with a Medtronic Hall valved conduit. After surgery severe @entity998 occurred. Despite the use of high-dose inotropic drugs the @entity1 could not be hemodynamically stabilized. An intra-aortic balloon pump was finally applied as a therapeutical last resort. Within three days, under counterpulsation, the @entity1 reached a stable hemodynamic condition. After twenty-one days in the intensive care unit, he could be transferred to a normal ward. The @entity1 was discharged on the fifty-fourth postoperative day. During counterpulsation there were no balloon- or catheter-induced complications. Follow-up at five months showed the @entity1 in good general health: echocardiography did not identify any lesions of the thoracic aorta which could be linked to counter-pulsation. It is concluded that the postoperative use of intra-aortic balloon pump in the event of DeBakey type I dissecting @entity439 of the aorta, and adversely affected @entity1 hemodynamics, is a justifiable therapeutical alternative.
