[Effect of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation on regional blood circulation]

The effect of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABC) on the volume blood flow in the descending branch of the left coronary artery and in the vertebral, renal, and femoral arteries was studied in dog experiments by means of an electromagnetic flowmeter. Resistography was applied to appraise the regulatory changes in the resistance to the blood flow in the vascular regions mentioned during IABC. It is shown that the increase in the coronary and cerebral blood flow during IABC is not associated with the reflex dilation of the resistant vessels of the heart and brain and is mainly due to a rise of diastolic pressure in the aorta. The volume blood flow in the kidney and hind extremity is maintained during IABC at a level close to the initial level due to regulatory decrease of the resistance of the vessels of these organs.