Intra-aortic balloon pump induced pulsatile perfusion reduces endothelial activation and inflammatory response following cardiopulmonary bypass

OBJECTIVE: Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP)-induced pulsatile perfusion has demonstrated that it can preserve organ function during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We evaluated the role of IABP pulsatile perfusion on endothelial response. METHODS: Forty consecutive isolated CABG undergoing preoperative IABP were randomized to receive IABP pulsatile CPB during aortic cross-clamping (group A, 20 patients) or standard linear CPB (group B, 20 patients) during cross-clamp time. Hemodynamic results were analyzed by Swan-Ganz catheter [mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac index (CI), indexed systemic vascular resistances (ISVR), indexed pulmonary vascular resistances (IPVR), wedge pressure (PCWP)]. Inflammatory/endothelial response was analyzed by pro-inflammatory (IL-2, IL-6, IL-8), anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10), and endothelial markers [vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1)]. All measurements were recorded preoperatively (T0), before aortic declamping (T1), at the end of surgery (T2), 12h (T3) and 24h (T4) postoperatively. ANOVA for repeated measures was used to evaluate the differences of means. RESULTS: Hemodynamic response was comparable except for higher MAP (p=0.01 at T1) and lower ISVR (p=0.001 at T1, p=0.003 at T2) in group A. No differences were found in perioperative leakage of IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 between the two groups (within-group p=0.0001 either in group A and group B; between-groups p=NS at 2-ANOVA). Group A showed significantly lower VEGF (between-groups p=0.001 at 2-ANOVA, p=0.001 at T1, T2) and MCP-1 (between-groups p=0.001 at 2-ANOVA, p=0.001 at T1, T2) with higher IL-10 secretion (between-groups p=0.001 at 2-ANOVA, p=0.01 at T1, T2, T3). CONCLUSIONS: IABP-induced pulsatile perfusion allows lower endothelial activation during CPB and higher anti-inflammatory cytokines secretion.