[Counterpulsation in clinical practice].
A. N. Bakulev Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR has 10 years of experience with counterpulsation in 209 patients with acute cardiac insufficiency. The main indications for assisted circulation were cardiogenic shock in 102 patients, myocardial infarction complicated by cardiac insufficiency in 43, cardiac insufficiency developing during or after cardiosurgical operations in 60 cases, prophylaxis of complications in high risk patients during intracardiac methods of investigation in 4 cases. The use of counterpulsation in 102 patients with post-infarction cardiogenic shock enabled the authors to liquidate the shock in half of the cases and to discharge 20% of the number from hospital. The study of peculiarities of shock enabled the authors to trace measures for decreasing mortality rate: use of counterpulsation as early as possible during transportation to hospital (29 cases), extension of indications for urgent surgery on the heart.