a mechanical intervention by a device surgically placed in the lumen in the proximal aorta that affects deflation and inflation of a balloon, synchronized with the cardiac cycle. This intervention is aimed to reduce afterload (stress) and improve coronary perfusion by augmenting aortic pressure during diastole and decreasing it in systole. It is considered a palliative measure in patients with severe heart failure to maintain life until more definitive therapies can be effective. Used in emergency treatment for cardiogenic shock or intractable angina.
