[A case of acute aortic dissection with aortic regurgitation successfully treated by postoperative ECMO]

A case of acute aortic dissection (Stanford Type A) with severe aortic regurgitation successfully treated by postoperative ECMO was reported. The patient was 41-year-old man in shock condition and was transferred to Kobe University Hospital. Chest CT scan and echocardiogram revealed acute aortic dissection with severe aortic regurgitation. An emergent operation by Collins' method and resuspension of aortic valve were carefully performed. Consequent ECMO was necessitated because of postoperative left ventricular and respiratory failure. Thereby, ECMO using heparin-coated CBAS-MAXIMA membrane oxygenator, centrifugal pump, and tubes was established by arterial cannulation via the anastomotic site of the ascending aorta to prevent the obstruction of the aortic true lumen by the false lumen which may be enlarged by retrograde perfusion via the femoral artery. Left ventricular function and pulmonary function were improved after 6 hours and 20 minutes, thus ECMO was successfully weaned without any complications.