Background: Currently intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been widely used in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, few studies have been done with regard to the clinical outcome and safety of IABP in assisting PCI in aged patients with ACS. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the safety of IABP in different age groups of patients with ACS.
Methods: Data on 292 ACS patients who received IABP-assisted PCI in Shenyang General Hospital of People's Liberation Army were retrospectively analyzed. More specifically, the successful rate, mortality and complications associated with the treatment were compared between the senior (>/= 60 years old) and the non-senior (< 60 years old) groups of patients.
Results: The attack rate of non-ST segment elevation ACS was significantly higher in the senior group than in the non-senior group (38.8% vs 21.1%, P < 0.01). The incidence of the IABP-associated complications was not significantly different between both groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: The clinical outcome and safety of IABP-assisted PCI in the elderly patients were comparable to that for the non-elderly patients.