Abstract: Objective To investigate the application of intra-aortal balloon pump(IABP) in highway transportation of coronary artery disease patients and during perioperative periods in coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods The data of 78 patients were treated with IABP in perioperative periods of CABG were retrospectively reviewed. The reasons, duration and results of using IABP were analyzed. Results Ten IABP patients were successfully transported through highway and expressway using ambulance. There was no power off and mechanical failure. There were no knot and falling off of IABP catheter. No heart attack occurred during the transportation. The mean duration of IABP was 76.6±28.2 hours; 67 patients were discharged from hospital with recovery, and 11 patients died in hospital. Low output syndrome, multiple organ failure syndrome and lung infection were the main causes of death. Conclusion It was safe to transport patients on IABP through highway and expressway for up to 2 hours and 100 kilometers. As a simple and effective circulation assisting method, IABP could enhance the safety in CABG patients at high risks.

Key words: intra-aortal balloon pump, coronary artery bypass grafting, perioperative period, highway transportation