What is the purpose of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and when is it used?

• A. Increases afterload to support systemic pressure.
• B. Improves coronary perfusion and reduces afterload; used in cardiogenic shock or during high-risk PCI.
• C. Pumps blood from the left ventricle directly.
• D. Treats tachyarrhythmias.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that an intra-aortic balloon pump provides temporary hemodynamic support by both improving coronary blood flow and easing the heart’s work. The catheter sits in the descending aorta and inflates during diastole, which raises diastolic aortic pressure and enhances coronary perfusion. It then deflates just before systole, which lowers aortic end-diastolic pressure and reduces afterload on the left ventricle. This combination helps increase cardiac output and stabilize perfusion in patients with poor heart function. It’s commonly used in cardiogenic shock or during high-risk PCI. It does not pump blood directly from the left ventricle, and it does not treat tachyarrhythmias; in fact, it reduces afterload rather than increases it.