Intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) has been shown to reverse the cardiogenic shock syndrome, but the long-term results (16 to 53% survival) have, in general, been disappointing. The most productive areas for the use of IABP are in the treatment of acute myocardial ischemia where in one report of 16 patients treated with IABP and surgery 15 survived and 13 were angina free, and in the open heart surgical setting where survival ranges from 42 to 70%. The implications of these treatment modalities are discussed.