[Evaluation of 2 years' experience with assisted circulation by diastolic counterpulsation].

The authors report their two years' experience of circulatory assistance by diastolic counter-pulsation with an intra-aortic balloon. This technique was used in 23 patients: 9 cases of cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarction, 9 septal ruptures, 1 rupture of the papillary muscle of the mitral valve, 1 acute ventricular aneurysm, 2 high risk coronary arteriographies and 1 case of early post-infarction recurrent ischemia. It confirms the gravity of cardiogenic shock as, in spite of the frequent improvement in hemodynamic parameters under counter-pulsation, there was only one survivor. The efficacy is greater in cases of septal rupture, where the author obtained 3 survivors out of 6 operated cases. The security of the method and its innocuity permit one to carry out high risk coronary arteriography and extend the indications for circulatory assistance, to certain cases of unstable angina or early recurrent anginal following acute infarction.