Effect of prolonged intra-aortic balloon pumping in patients with cardiogenic shock following acute myocardial infarction.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of prolonged intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) support in patients with cardiogenic shock following acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Material/methods: Thirty-nine patients with cardiogenic shock after AMI were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention which was supported by IABP. After 72 hours of IABP, the patients who attained the criteria of IABP withdrawal were randomly divided into two groups.