Percutaneous bedside femorofemoral bypass grafting for acute limb ischemia caused by intra-aortic balloon pump.

Overview

Acute limb ischemia is a common, recognized complication of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) placement in patients with failing myocardium, and an operative femorofemoral bypass graft is often necessary in IABP-dependent patients as a means of maintaining the lower-limb perfusion. In this report, we present a minimally invasive endovascular technique for creating a percutaneous temporary femorofemoral bypass graft at bedside in patients with IABP-induced limb ischemia. This temporary bypass grafting technique may obviate a potential graft infection or wound complications associated with a formal femorofemoral bypass graft.