INTRAAORTIC BALLOON PUMP AFTER TREATMENT OF ANOMALOUS ORIGIN OF LEFT CORONARY-ARTERY

The same system of intraaortic balloon pumping has been used in 2 infa nts after surgical repair of anomalous origin of the left coronary art ery from the main pulmonary artery. Intraaortic balloon pumping was st arted in the first patient on the second postoperative day, whereas in the second patient it was started before the patient was weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass. Both patients survived. In the first patient i ntraaortic balloon pumping improved the low cardiac output, which had failed to respond to maximal inotropic support, whereas in the second it maintained hemodynamic stability. (C) 1998 by The Society of Thorac ic Surgeons.