Which effect does early inflation of the IABP have on the cardiac workload?

The early inflation of the Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) primarily reduces cardiac workload by improving diastolic pressure, which in turn enhances coronary perfusion while decreasing the demand on the heart. When the balloon inflates during diastole, it displaces blood back into the aorta and increases diastolic pressure, thus leading to better perfusion of the coronary arteries. This mechanism alleviates the strain on the heart muscle, allowing for more efficient pumping with less energy expenditure and reducing overall cardiac workload.

The other effects, such as changes in cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, and heart rate, are not the primary focuses of early IABP inflation. Instead, it specifically targets workload reduction to improve heart function and management of patients with severe cardiac conditions. The decreased cardiac workload translates into better outcomes, especially in critical situations where the heart is compromised.