Successful use of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation in the treatment of refractory intraoperative cardiogenic shock.

Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABC) has been used successfully in the treatment of shock following myocardial infarction. This report describes eight patients who developed medically refractory cardiogenic shock following cessation of cardiopulmonary bypass and who were treated with IABC. None of the eight became balloon dependent and seven of eight (87.5%) left the hospital doing well. The treatment of refractory intra-operative cardiogenic shock represents a new and additional indication for IABC.