IABP removal

Specialties CCU

Published

Has anyone out there removed an IABP or seen another nurse do it. A RNFA or APN. Appreciate any help. I am a CRNFA(certified registered nurse first assistant) in cardiac surgery. The surgeon I work with wants me to remove them when the patient no longer needs it. :eek:

In my facility the MD pulls the BP, but RN pulls pretty much anything else including sheaths, swan, cordis, central line, whatever.

Specializes in Critical Care Baby!!!!!.

I have pulled an IABP on a pt who died. It is a pretty simple procedure and is done exactly the same for some on living. You first, deflate the helium from the balloon. Usually, one of those big 20 cc syringes works best to deflate the air. Attach the syringe to the port on the catheter that would allow you to withdraw the air. Then just pull the balloon while some else hold pressure. If you feel resistance while pulling..STOP. The balloon could be adhered inside. We had one patient that had to go to the OR to have it removed because that very thing happened.

Anyway, it just like removing the sheath. Hold pressure for 30 - 45 min. Apply pressure dressing flat for 6 hours. Hope that helps!

In our facility, MD and physician assistants pulls balloon pumps. RN's can pull anything below a 6-8 sheath, arterial or venous. Otherwise a cath lab tech comes and holds pressure. I don't mind really because I usually don't have time to hold pressure for 30 minutes. RN's are not allowed to pull balloon pumps at all. Again, you usually don't have time for holding pressure. That and if something goes wrong with the patient during or when it comes out, the nurse is available for atropine, or whatever. never seen a patient brady though with a balloon pump. Have seen it with sheaths pulled after angioplasty.

Pete495

Where I worked Critical care NP's were trained to pull, and one thing that was stressed to me was to let the balloon passively deflate...her rationale was that some patients developed complications from using syringe to deflate because it creates a flattened balloon with sharp edges

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