MECHANICAL ASSIST AND ITS LIMITATION FOR CARDIAC FAILURE ASSOCIATED WITH ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Abstract

Emergency coronary angiography, emergency reperfusion therapy and intra-aortic balloon pumping improved clinical results of acute myocardial infarction. But patients with sever pump failure need more effective mechanical assist. Percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) is an useful alternative procedure in such situation. Two of 5 patients who were resuscitated by PCPS survived after coronary angioplasty. Twenty-five cases of 31 emergency or urgent surgical cases were salvaged but left heart bypass by assist device was necessary in 2 cases. Thirty-seven old man who was suffering from acute occlusion of left main trunk underwent emergency bypass surgery, but he died after 3 months from heart failure and infection in spite of being weaned from left heart assist after 10 days from its application. This patient was considered to be a candidate for heart transplantation.