[Use of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation in treating acute heart failure in heart surgery patients].

Intra-aortal balloon contrapulsation (IABC) was used as part of combined treatment for acute cardiac failure following cardiac surgery in 17 patients. The monitoring of cardiac output and pressure inside the heart's cavities (using the thermodilution method) showed IABC to produce an obvious hemodynamic effect. Six patients survived. Acute myocardial infarction as a cause of cardiac failure considerably aggravated the outcome. The final result of treatment was not satisfactory in such patients. It is stressed that IABC should be started as early as possible (not later than 2-3 hours after signs of acute heart failure first appear).