The hemodynamic effects of intraaortic balloon pumps (IABPs) are well known. The use of IABPs is prone to many complications, including those classified as vascular. These complications are said to be more frequent with percutaneous insertion techniques. These complications and the algorithm for identifying patients who are most likely to suffer vascular complications were evaluated in a retrospective manner in a group of patients that received percutaneous IABPs. The study group consisted of 449 patients. The mean age of these patients was 53.6 +/- 12.8 years (range, 18 to 80 years), and 24.7% were female. The early mortality rate of these patients was 53.2%. The mortality for patients in whom vascular complications developed was significantly higher than that in the patients who did not suffer any vascular complications (65.7% versus 50.8%; p = 0.018). Minor or major vascular complications developed in 17.4% (n = 78) of the patients. There was no statistical difference in the frequency of complications between the patients who received a sheathless IABP and those who received a sheathed IABP. Ischemic complications occurred in 16.6% of the patients who received a sheathless IABP and in 17.6% of the patients with sheathed IABPs (p < 0.05). Diabetic patients (relative risk, 2.5), female patients (relative risk, 1.83), patients with peripheral vascular disease (relative risk, 3.69), and patients undergoing coronary artery bypass operations (relative risk, 2.08) were at increased risk for suffering vascular complications. These risk factors should be evaluated before insertion of an IABP, and routes other than percutaneous femoral insertion are preferred if the patient is IABP dependent.