Patent ID: 8430899

Claim:
A method for treating a human or veterinary patient who suffers from congestive heart failure or another condition wherein the patients cardiac output is subnormal, said method comprising the steps of a. providing a heat exchange/intra-aortic counterpulsation catheter comprising i) an elongate catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter being advancable, distal-end-first, into the aorta of the patient, ii) a counterpulsation balloon useable for effecting intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation; and, a heat exchanger useable to cool at least a portion of the patient's body to a temperature that is at least 1° C. below normothermia; b. advancing the heat exchange/intra-aortic counterpulsation catheter, distal end first, into the patient's aorta such that the counterpulsation balloon is positioned in the thoracic aorta; c. driving and controlling the counterpulsation balloon and heat exchanger so as to effect intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation while cooling and/or maintaining the temperature of at least a portion of the patient's body to a temperature that is at least 1° C. below normothermia.