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Intra-aortic balloon pump

Case contributed by Jayanth Keshavamurthy
Diagnosis not applicable

Presentation

Intubated check radiograph

Patient Data

Age: 70 years
Gender: Male
x-ray

ET tube, NG tube and IABP catheter tip in situ.

Left paraspinal lucency corresponds to the inflated balloon.

Pulmonary edema after coronary stent placement.

Case Discussion

Patient recently had a coronary artery stent placed in the LAD territory and so an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) catheter was placed. The best position for the balloon is distal to the left subclavian artery and superior to the celiac axis. The balloon is inflated in diastole by gas.

Do not forget to describe intra-aortic balloon pumps. The balloon is radiolucent but the tip has a radiopaque marker. The left paraspinal lucency corresponds to the inflated balloon.

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