Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Reduces in-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Fulminant Myocarditis

Abstract A life support-based comprehensive treatment regimen, in which an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) unloads the left ventricle, has reduced the mortality of patients with fulminant myocarditis (FM). This study evaluated the efficacy of IABP in the treatment of patients with FM. A total of 100 patients diagnosed with FM were divided into two groups depending on the application of IABPs. 57 (57%) received IABPs within 30 min after admission (IABP group), whereas 43 (43%) did not (non-IABP group). In IABP group, 24.6% (14/57) died, compared to 34.9% (15/43) of those without IABPs (P < 0.01). The mean blood pressure (MBP), averaged heart rate (AHR), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were similar between the two groups on admission. However, compared to the non-IABP group, MBP and LVEF were increased and AHR was significantly in IABP group. IABPs reduced the in-hospital mortality risk and improved the cardiac dysfunction in patients with FM.