Background

The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) technique plays a crucial role in providing circulatory support for patients experiencing hemodynamic instability. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of preoperative prophylactic IABP insertion in patients undergoing acute critical coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases, covering the period from January 1995 to September 2022.

Results

The incidence of renal insufficiency, mechanical ventilation exceeding 24 h, and bleeding events in the IABP group did not exhibit significant differences compared to the control group (relative risk [RR] = 0.85, P = 0.26; RR = 0.81, P = 0.08; RR = 0.95, P = 0.87). However, the hospital mortality rate was significantly lower in the IABP group than in the control group (RR = 0.54, P = 0.0007), and the length of ICU stay was shorter in the IABP group (mean difference [MD] = -1.12, P < 0.000001). The IABP group also exhibited a lower incidence of low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS%) compared to the control group (RR = 0.61, P < 0.0001), and a lower incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE%) (RR = 0.70, P = 0.001). No significant publication bias was observed in the funnel plot analysis.

Conclusion

Preoperative prophylactic insertion of IABP is currently considered beneficial in improving outcomes for critically ill patients undergoing CABG. This technique reduces hospital mortality, shortens ICU stays, and lowers the incidence of LCOS% and MACCE%.