Haemodynamic changes in patients undergoing high-risk PTCA under protection of transfemoral heart- lung machine...

Patients with a high risk for myocardial revascularization by cardiological or surgical means can be supported during high-risk PTCA with mechanical circulatory support (supp HR-PTCA). Between November 1994 and June 1997 we performed 28 supp HR-PTCA's under protection of a heart-lung machine (HLM) with femoro - femoral cannulation under regional anesthesia. We approached 2.8+/-1.5 stenoses and 1.7+/-0.6 vessels per patient. Primary success rate was 95 percent of the treated vessels. During unloading, pulmonary artery mean pressure fell to 42+/-29% of the starting value, and LVEDP was decreased to 36+/-42%. Mechanical unloading also resulted in a significant reduction of left ventricular volumes (unloaded LVEDVI and LVESVI represent 76.8% and 76.6% of pre-unloaded values, respectively, p<0.05). All patients except one survived the procedure and could be discharged from the hospital. Femoro-femoral cardio-pulmonary bypass under regional anesthesia provides sufficient protection for high risk PTCA procedures and enables high risk patients to benefit from coronary revascularization.