Preoperative Intraaortic Balloon Pump Improves Early Outcomes Following High-Risk Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials and Prospective Study Design.

Despite widespread use, evidence to support preemptive intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) insertion for patients undergoing high-risk coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery remains sparse, and in need of a well-defined clinical trial. To inform the design of a prospective trial, we sought to review outcomes in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of anticipatory IABP use vs control in patients undergoing high-risk CABG through meta-analysis. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality within 30 days of surgery. The secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE), a composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or repeat revascularization.Using Ovid MEDLINE, we systematically reviewed all RCTs comparing preoperative IABP with control in patients undergoing high-risk CABG, defined as: left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%, left main stenosis ≥70%, unstable angina, recent myocardial infarction, or prior myocardial revascularization undergoing elective or emergent CABG on or off pump.Of 950 articles assessed for eligibility, 10 RCTs of 1261 subjects (mean age, 65.0 years; 21.8% women; mean LVEF, 35%) were included. Mortality was significantly lower in patients receiving IABP compared with control (relative risk [RR], 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30-0.76; P<.01). The risk of MACCE was also lower with IABP (RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.54-0.84; P<.001). No significant differences in major bleeding events (RR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.44-3.72) or vascular complications (RR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.42-3.06) were detected.A strategy of routine prophylactic IABP use may reduce short-term mortality and MACCE in high-risk CABG patients. A definitive, adequately powered, prospective, randomized trial is warranted to confirm these results.