title: Characteristic of patients surviving over a long-term period after intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation treatment.
abstract: Control examination of 21 patients after cardiac surgery which required the application of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation in order to terminate extracorporeal circulation showed that, in spite of the serious postoperative course, the prognosis and quality of their life is a good one. Objective signs of left ventricular function show rather a moderate deterioration. Patients after myocardial revascularization have at the same time a demonstrable ischaemic disease of the lower extremities. Changes of more serious nature on the arteries of the lower extremities in connection with the earlier application of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation could not be documented.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization