Objective    To review the clinical experience and application of intra aortic ballon pump (IABP) in the patients needing emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (eCABG) and explore the proper time and indications of the counterpulsation.     Methods    Totally 31 cases who receiving IABP before eCABG from March 2000 to August 2008 were subjected. IABP catheter was placed through the internal femoral to aortic artery

and continuous measurement of hemodynamic parameters

including continuous cardiac output (CCO)

cardiac index (CI)

systolic arterial blood pressure (SABP)

mean arterial blood pressure (MABP)

and pulmonary capillary wedge

pressure (PCWP) during perioperative period were performed. eCABG was carried out on 16 patients with cardiopulmonary bypass and 15 with off-pump.     Results    Twenty-nine patients were survival

and 2 patients died of multiorgan failure due to long term tracheal incubation. The duration of the IABP assist ranged from 20 to 109 h

with a mean of (32.8±16.9)h. All patients were removed IABP successfully. With the IABP treatment

the CCO

CI

SABP and MABP were significantly increased (

P

<

0.05)

while PCWP was declined (

P

<

0.05).     Conclusion    IABP can effectively improve the hemodynamic status of patients

and installing IABP before the eCABG improves cardiac function effectively

increases the successful rate of operation

and ensures the usage of the internal mammary artery (or known as internal thoracic artery).