PRELIMINARY EXPERIENCE WITH A PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOPULMONARY SUPPORT SYSTEM

Percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass has been introduced to support cir culation in critical patients. In our preliminary experience we resusc itated two patients who sustained a prolonged cardiac arrest (52' and 31') after coronary angiography and elective cardiac surgery, respecti vely. Cannulation was achieved percutaneously within 10' in both cases . Pump flow ranged from 2 to 31/m. Total support lasted from 52' to 18 0'. Both patients were successfully weaned. Patient 1 was declared bra in dead and expired 17 days later. Patient 2 was discharged from the h ospital and his doing well. Cannulation was attempted in a third patie nt after 30' of cardiac arrest. Despite surgical cut down of the femor al vessels, it was impossible to advance the arterial cannula because of bilateral occlusive disease. We conclude that PCPS is a powerful te chnique in selected patients to recover a stable cardiac function afte r prolonged cardiac arrest.