Continuous internal counterpulsation as a bridge to recovery in acute and chronic heart failure

Table 2 Effects of counterpulsation on systemic hemodynamics and left ventricular mechanoenergetics

Decrease

Systolic aortic pressure

End-diastolic aortic pressure

LV systolic wall stress (afterload)

Myocardial oxygen/LV energy consumption

End-diastolic ventricular volume (preload)

Mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure

Increase

Diastolic aortic pressure (augmentation)

LV mechanical performance (ejection fraction, stroke volume, cardiac output)

LV contractility and active relaxation (in the reperfused failing heart)

Coronary blood flow (post-ischemia, when coronary autoregulation is impaired and flow is pressure-dependent)[33]

Cerebral, renal, mesenteric and pulmonary blood flow

Mean arterial pressure (in patients with shock)

LV: Left ventricular.