The patient’s balloon dependence is often tested
daily by placing the balloon assist on standby, and
observing the change in mean pulmonary artery pressure
(MPAP) and MAP. If there is little change (e.g. no
increase in MPAP or decrease in MAP) then the balloon
augmentation (i.e. balloon inflation volume) is
decreased and/or the pump frequency is reduced (e.g.
the balloon pump is changed from augmenting every
beat to alternate beats then every third beat over 4-8