[The intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (author's transl)]

Indication for and clinical experience with intra aortic balloon counterpulsation at Harefield Hospital are reported. From Sept. 1973 to Sept. 1977, 87 patients had counterpulsation. Indications were: postinfarction cardiogenic shock in 28 cases; acute ischaemic episode in 19 and postoperative cardiogenic shock in 40. Of the 28 patients in postinfarction cardiogenic shock 15 underwent open heart surgery with an hospital mortality of 40%. All the patients with acute ischaemic episodes had surgery with an hospital mortality of 10%. In the group of 40 patients with postoperative cardiogenic shock overall mortality was 47%: it was of 18% in the 22 patients who had coronary artery bypass surgery while it was of 83% in the 18 patients who had valve surgery. Early recognition and treatment of conditions requiring counterpulsation is essential for achieving the best results.