Percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass as a bridge to coronary artery bypass surgery in 2 cases of circulatory collapse caused by severe myocardial ischemia

A closed system of percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass (PCPB) with centrifugal pump and membrane oxygenator was applied for 2 patients with circulatory collapse caused by acute reclosure of left anterior descending coronary artery after PTCA in case 1 and acute myocardial infarction due to left main coronary artery lesion in case 2. Both patients were brought to operating room under the circulatory support of PCPB and successful coronary artery bypass was performed. Case 1 survived and case 2 died from sepsis due to mediastinitis inspite of satisfactory recovery of cardiac function. PCPB was confirmed as a useful method for emergency circulatory support and a bridge to cardiac surgery in patients with cardiogenic circulatory collapse.