[Long time use of percutaneous cardiopulmonary support after cardiovascular operation; clinical problems from our...

Result and problems were studied in 12 patients who received percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) after cardiac or aortic surgery. Causative diseases included acute myocardial infarction in 7 cases, rupture of the left ventricular septum after infarction, acute mitral valve regurgitation after infarction, rupture of the left ventricular free wall, a stuck valve, and an aortic aneurysm in the thoracicoabdominal region in each 1 case. The time of postoperative PCPS ranged from 2 to 361 hours, and the mean supply flow volume was 1.78 +/- 0.45 l/min/m2. Seven patients could be taken off the treatment or discharged from the hospital (58.3%). The comparison between surviving and non-surviving cases showed a significantly longer assisted circulation time in the latter. An increase of bleeding after surgery was found in all 8 patients who received PCPS for a long period postoperatively. This was assumed to be due to the thrombocytic activation by heparin.