Abstract: AIM:To investigate the value of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) support therapy for patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated with cardiogenic shock. METHODS: Enrolled in the study were 75 consecutive patients ［mean age (69.7±10.2) years, 54 males］ diagnosed from December 2004 to December 2010 with AMI complicated with cardiogenic shock. All patients were treated with IABP, including PCI in 63 cases and CABG in one case. RESULTS: IABP time in the 75 cases was 2-336 h ［mean: (90.1±75.2) h］ and the overall in-hospital mortality was 29.3% (n=22): IABP with and without revascularization, respectively, 21.9% and 72.7%. Incidence of complications was 6.7% including puncture site bleeding in one patient, severe thrombocytopenia in one patient, a large area of cerebral infarction in one patient, and acute pancreatitis in two patients. CONCLUSION: IABP support with revascularization is an effective modality for AMI patients complicated with cardiogenic shock, which significantly lowers hospital mortality. However, the mortality rate remains high without revascularization.