@icuboy: This is either the most mind-blowing or most over-simplified thing you will hear today! I spent years being confused about how an intra-aortic balloon pump works. Context: an IABP is a form of mechanical circulatory support, used to increase the cardiac output by about 0.5-1L/min in patients with cardiogenic shock. So does it inflate during systole or diastole? The answer is diastole! Listen to hear why. Follow for more ICU made simple & share with a friend #icu #shock #icumadesimple #foamed #meded