Abstract
From 1979 to 1988, 78 patients undergoing cardiac surgery had insertion of an IABP. Of these patients, 31 (40%) were discharged alive from hospital. Patients were followed-up for a mean period of 16.3 months with 5 late deaths mostly due to cardiac causes. Long-term survival rate was 30.8%. Patients with ischemic heart disease had significantly better survival rate than patients with valvular heart disease or congenital heart disease. Survivors were in class I or II NYHA at their latest folloe-up. Late lag complication was found in only one patient.
