Management of intraaortic balloon entrapment

Two cases of intraaortic balloon entrapment were presented. In patient 1, urokinase was injected into the gas driver lumen of the intraaortic balloon catheter, then it could be removed. In patient 2, the intraaortic balloon was removed retrogradely through the left axillary artery. If the entrapped intraaortic balloon is encountered, it is effective to try a clot-lysis method initially, followed by a surgical approach through a left axillary artery.