The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) in treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by cardiogenic shock. The study group consists of 20 consecutive patients (13 males and 7 females, aged 38-82 years) with cardiogenic shock developed in the course of MI. Catecholamines were administrated in all patients before intraaortic balloon pumping was instituted. IABP was performed using Datascope device. Efficacy of the procedure was determined with invasive measurements of arterial blood pressure and the level of diuresis. Of 20 patients with cardiogenic shock, 7 were successfully treated with IABP and they were discharged from the hospital.