Patients with intra-aortic balloon pumps (catheters placed in the groin connected to a pump
which assists the heart by opening and closing a balloon in the aorta, thereby decreasing the
work of the heart and improving blood flow to the coronary arteries) often receive
intravenous (IV) heparin (a "blood thinner") to prevent circulation problems in the leg
(where they are inserted). When intra-aortic balloon pumps were initially developed, the
catheters were larger than the catheters used today. Due to the large size of the catheter
and the material used to make the catheter, it was thought that intravenous heparin would
prevent poor blood flow to the leg that contained the temporary catheter. Intravenous
heparin, however, has never been proven to maintain good blood flow in these patients. The
catheters used with intra-aortic balloon pumps are now smaller in size and made of a material
that is less likely to produce blood clots. It is not clear that heparin is needed with
intra-aortic balloon pumps. Bleeding complications associated with intra-aortic balloon pumps
may be decreased if heparin is not used. In 2004, 99 patients received intra-aortic balloon
pumps in the cardiac catheterization labs at William Beaumont Hospital. These patients
received intravenous heparin and experienced a large number of bleeding complications (27
patients required a blood transfusion). This study will help the investigators to clarify if
heparin should or should not be routinely used in patients with intra-aortic balloon pumps.