POST-CARDIOTOMY LOW-OUTPUT SYNDROME - SUCCESSFUL USE OF EXTRACORPOREAL MEMBRANE-OXYGENATION IN AN OCTOGENARIAN PATIENT

We report on an 80-year-old woman who developed cardiac low output ref ractory to drug therapy and diastolic augmentation after urgent myocar dial revascularization. Despite her advanced age we implanted a ventri cular assist device, which was successfully explanted after providing support for 8 h. The patient was in a fair condition at discharge, and leading a normal life at 1 year after operation. We believe that this is the first report of successful use of extracorporeal membrane oxyg enation to manage postcardiotomy low output in an octogenarian, and th at there is no reason to exclude such patients from postcardiotomy ven tricular support.