A new left ventricular assist device consisting of a canula containing a turbine introduced by retrograde catheterisation was evaluated in the prevention of complications in 9 patients undergoing high risk coronary angioplasty. The good clinical and hemodynamic status during and after coronary dilatation confirmed the system's innocuity and its efficacy each time it could be correctly positioned in the ventricle (6 patients). These extremely encouraging preliminary results suggest that an additional simplification but reducing the size of the canula and increasing turbine flow, allowing percutaneously introduction would constitute a significant development.