The results of intra-aortic balloon pumping in 7 patients with cardiogenic shock after cardiac surgery are reported. 2 patients were unresponsive to IABP, 4 patients showed initial stabilization of the circulation, but became IABP-dependent and died. One patient could be weaned from IABP, but died of uncontrollable cardiac arrhythmias. These results are discussed.

No abstract

Left ventricular function in 8 patients with coronary heart disease, who died during or immediately after surgery, was compared with the corresponding data of 25 survivors. Both groups were similar in age and had about the same number of myocardial infarctions preoperatively. For LVEDP, EDV, EF and VCF critical values could be defined, which were found in none of the survivors. These values were: LVDEP approximately 20 mm Hg, EDV approximately 150 ml/m2, EF less than 30% and VCF less than 0,4 circ/s. The least prognostic significance was found for LVEDP; EDV and VCF correlated best with the surgical risk.