ACUTELY SEVERE MYOCARDITIS SUCCESSFULLY TREATED BY PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOPULMONARY SUPPORT APPLIED BY A NEWLY DEVELOPED HEPARIN-BINDING OXYGENATOR AND CIRCUITS

The feasibility of using the heparin-bound percutaneous cardiopulmonar y support system (PCPS) for prolonged extracorporeal circulation in pa tients with acute severe myocarditis is demonstrated. The case histori es of 2 patients with cardiogenic shock caused by acute myocarditis ar e presented; both were successfully treated with long-term PCPS using a newly developed heparin-binding oxygenator and circuits without chan ging the oxygenator. The courses of both patients remain uneventful mo re than 12 months after discharge. We also discuss the clinical aspect s of using heparin-bound PCPS in patients with acute severe myocarditi s.