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Background: The use of an intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) catheter was retrospectively evaluated in terms of risk factors, insertion techniques, and complications in patients with low cardiac output., Methods: A total of 1036 patients (804 males, 232 females; mean age 53.4 years; range 16 to 75 years) received IABP support from 1985 to March 2002. Of these, 789 patients (76.1%) underwent open heart surgery, 247 patients (23.8%) developed low cardiac output during medical treatment. Insertion of IABP was performed via the femoral artery either percutaneously by the Seldinger technique in 897 patients (86.6%), or by direct surgical exposure in 88 patients (8.5%). Open surgical IABP insertion was performed through an 8 mm Dacron graft placed with an end-to-side anastomosis to the common femoral artery (88 patients) or to the ascending aorta (23 patients)., Results: The overall mortality rate was 35.1% (364 patients). Vascular complications were associated with IABP in 104 patients (10%), of which 57 patients (5.5%) required surgical treatment. Major complications were aortic arch dissection in two patients and paraplegia in two patients. Vascular complications tended to increase with female gender, older age, diabetes, and peripheral vascular disease. The mean duration of IABP support in the presence of vascular complications was 7.8 days (range 5 hours to 77 days)., Conclusion: Application of unsheathed IABP and proper evaluation of peripheral circulation seem to decrease the incidence of vascular complications.