intraaortic balloon pump

intraaortic balloon pump

an externally actuated and intermittently inflatable balloon placed into the descending aorta and that, on activation during diastole, augments blood pressure and organ perfusion by its pulsatile thrust; then, on deflation, decreases the cardiac work with each systole-the so-called counterpulsation principle-by reducing cardiac afterload. Compare: intraaortic balloon counterpulsation.

in·tra·a·or·tic bal·loon pump

(in'tră-ā-ōr'tik bă-lūn' pŭmp) An externally actuated and intermittently inflatable balloon placed into the descending aorta that, on activation during diastole, augments blood pressure and organ perfusion by its pulsatile thrust; then, on deflation, decreases the cardiac work with each systole-the so-called counterpulsation principle-by reducing cardiac afterload.