Abstract
Six patients underwent percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) for severe cardiorespiratory dysfunction. There were 4 males and 2 females with the age ranging from 53 to 74 years old (mean 64). Two patients were in cardiogenic shock due to stuck mitral prosthesis and pulmonary embolism, 2 patients suffered from intractable ventricular fibrillation, 1 patient could not come off bypass after cardiac operation, and another patient was severely hypoxic due to pneumonia after pulmonary lobectomy. The duration of PCPS ranged from 1 to 72 hours (mean 26). Activated clotting time was kept between 180 and 250 seconds by continuous administration of heparin or naphamostat mesilate during PCPS. The inner surface of PCPS circuits, centrifugal pumps, and membrane oxygenators were entirely coated with heparin. Four patients came off PCPS and survived, and 2 died of multiple organ failure and irreversible respiratory failure. Major complications were massive hemolysis in 1 patient and ischemic lower extremities in 2 patients. No central nervous system damage nor hemorrhagic complications were observed. PCPS was effective in controlling preoperative cardiac failure and intractable ventricular arrhythmias.
