2024 Volume 31 Issue 5 Pages 503-507
We report a case of septic shock following pancreatic head cancer surgery with compromised cardiac function, which was successfully treated with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and percutaneous left ventricular assist device (Impella®, Abiomed, USA). A 67-year-old man who had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic head cancer and postoperative hepatic artery embolization for gastroduodenal artery bleeding returned to the hospital on the 6th day after discharge with a complaint of fever and suspected liver abscess. On the 5th day of admission to our hospital, the patient went into septic shock and was transferred to the ICU. On the 6th day, the patient was complicated by cardiogenic shock due to sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy; consequently, Impella® CP and VA-ECMO were initiated. The patient’s cardiac function improved within a few days, and both Impella® CP and VA-ECMO were removed on the 11th day. The patient was discharged from the ICU on the 15th day. In cases of cardiogenic shock due to sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy requiring mechanical circulatory support for lifesaving, the combined use of Impella® and VA-ECMO may lead to early recovery.
