title: Experimental and clinical evaluation of a counterpulsation device.
abstract: The counterpulsation technique has been widely used for the assistance of the acutely failing left ventricle utilizing the intraaortic balloon pump. However, a variety of other counterpulsation devices are available. To evaluate a counterpulsation device several variables need to be considered: (1) experimental and clinical determination of the salutary effects of the device on the left ventricular ejection fraction, cardiac output, aortic pressures, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, tension-time index, diastolic pressure-time index and endocardial viability ratio; (2) experimental and clinical estimation of the device biocompatibility, and (3) the clinical improvement of the assisted patients.
authors.affiliation: University of Athens, School of Medicine, Department of Clinical Therapeutics Greece.
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Nanas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anastasiou-Nana
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Moulopoulos
mesh_terms: D015908:Counterpulsation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology