From the Research
Pressure is the preferred IABP trigger during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). During CPR, using pressure as the trigger for intra-aortic balloon pump timing provides more reliable and accurate balloon inflation and deflation timing, especially when ECG signals may be compromised due to interference or lack of organized electrical activity. The most recent and highest quality study, 1, published in 2024, suggests that intra-aortic balloon pump synchronized with chest compressions improves outcome during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in experimental cardiac arrest, highlighting the potential benefits of pressure triggering in this context. Key points to consider include:
- The study 1 demonstrated that IABP synchronized with chest compressions increased the proportion of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) compared to controls.
- Another study, 2, found that IABP inflation 0.15 s before mechanical chest compressions significantly increased mean arterial pressure and carotid blood flow compared to inflation 0.10 s after mechanical chest compressions and to mechanical chest compressions only.
- While other studies, such as 3 and 4, discuss the use of IABP in different contexts, including extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation and cardiac surgery, the most relevant and recent evidence supporting the use of pressure triggering during CPR comes from 1 and 2. Overall, the evidence suggests that pressure triggering is the preferred method for IABP during CPR due to its reliability and potential to improve outcomes.