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Intra-Aortic Balloon Counterpulsation

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menu Intra-Aortic Balloon Counterpulsation
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A mechanical pump placed in your aorta to help pump blood

Expert Heart & Vascular Care

Getting the care you need starts with seeing one of our heart or vascular specialists.

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Certain heart conditions can make it difficult for your heart to pump enough blood through your body. Your doctor may recommend intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation therapy to help stabilize your heart if it needs extra support due to heart failure or a heart attack. A small mechanical pump can inflate a balloon placed within one of your coronary arteries to increase blood circulation.

The doctors in our Advanced Heart Failure Program will partner with our Complex Aortic Center team to determine the most effective treatment option for you.

What to expect during intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation

Your doctor may ask you not to eat or drink before the procedure. You will be given a sedative medication through an IV in your arm to help you relax. The doctor may use an echocardiogram to monitor your heart.

Your doctor will numb a small area on your thigh, where they will insert a catheter, which is a thin, flexible tube with a mechanically controlled balloon attached to it. The catheter is guided to the aorta using X-ray imaging for guidance. Once the balloon is in place, it will be programmed to inflate and deflate as your heart pumps to increase blood flow and blood oxygenation.

The counterpulsation therapy may be given over several days, during which time you will stay in the hospital for monitoring.

Advanced Heart Failure Program

Partner with leaders in the field to manage and treat your heart failure and help you maximize your quality of life.

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Tests

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, measures the heart’s electrical activity.

Physicians

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23 Doctors & Specialists
Dr. Chadi Tanios Abouassaly, MD
Dr. Chadi Tanios Abouassaly, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Room 4B39 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Christian Charles Shults, MD
Dr. Christian Charles Shults, MD
Valvular Disease Cardiology | Structural Heart Disease Cardiology | Cardiac Surgery
(248)
1830 SUITE 405 Reston, VA 20190
(202) 877-7464
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Dr. Kevin Grant Handy, MD
Dr. Kevin Grant Handy, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
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Dr. Ezequiel J. Molina, MD
Dr. Ezequiel J. Molina, MD
Cardiac Surgery
(133)
1830 SUITE 405 Reston, VA 20190
(202) 877-7464
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Dr. Benjamin B. Kenigsberg, MD
Dr. Benjamin B. Kenigsberg, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Room 4B-1 Washington, DC 20010
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Dr. Ricardo Orlando Quarrie, MD, MS
Dr. Ricardo Orlando Quarrie, MD, MS
Cardiac Surgery
3333 North Calvert Street Johnston Professional Building Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 554-6550
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Dr. Pamela M. Paufler, MD
Dr. Pamela M. Paufler, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Michael J. Hockstein, MD
Dr. Michael J. Hockstein, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Jeffrey E. Cohen, MD
Dr. Jeffrey E. Cohen, MD
Cardiac Surgery
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite NW Washington, DC 20010
202-877-7464
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Dr. Brian George Lee, MD
Dr. Brian George Lee, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Michael Fiocco, MD
Dr. Michael Fiocco, MD
Valvular Disease Cardiology | Structural Heart Disease Cardiology | Cardiac Surgery
(158)
3333 North Calvert Street Johnston Professional Building Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 554-6550
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Dr. Seife Yohannes, MD
Dr. Seife Yohannes, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Stephen M. Luczycki, MD
Dr. Stephen M. Luczycki, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Hiroto Kitahara, MD
Dr. Hiroto Kitahara, MD
Cardiac Surgery
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite NW Washington, DC 20010
202-877-7464
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Dr. Akram M. Zaaqoq, MD
Dr. Akram M. Zaaqoq, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
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Dr. Alexander I. Papolos, MD
Dr. Alexander I. Papolos, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Arthur C. St. Andre, MD
Dr. Arthur C. St. Andre, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Brian Thomas Bethea, MD
Dr. Brian Thomas Bethea, MD
Cardiac Surgery
3333 North Calvert Street Johnston Professional Building Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 554-6550
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Dr. Alena Lira, MD
Dr. Alena Lira, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Jennifer Yu, MD
Dr. Jennifer Yu, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Nimesh Satish Shah, MD
Dr. Nimesh Satish Shah, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Room 4B Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Ammar S. Bafi, MD
Dr. Ammar S. Bafi, MD
Valvular Disease Cardiology | Structural Heart Disease Cardiology | Cardiac Surgery
(199)
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite NW Washington, DC 20010
202-877-7464
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Dr. Alexandra Kristina Pratt, MD
Dr. Alexandra Kristina Pratt, MD
Critical Care Medicine
110 Irving Street Northwest Room 4B-42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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6 locations found
MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital
5601 Loch Raven Boulevard GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPTIAL Baltimore, MD 21239
(443) 444-4100
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MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
201 East University Parkway Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 554-2266
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MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
9000 Franklin Square Drive Baltimore, MD 21237
(443) 777-7900
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MedStar St. Mary's Hospital
25500 Point Lookout Road MedStar St Mary's Hospital Leonardtown, MD 20650
(301) 475-8981
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MedStar Harbor Hospital
3001 South Hanover Street Baltimore, MD 21225
(410) 350-3200
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MedStar Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving Street Northwest Washington, DC 20010
202-877-7464
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