title: ECMO assisted angioplasty for cardiomyopathy patients with unstable angina.
abstract: Patients who are otherwise unsuitable candidates for coronary bypass surgery or standard coronary angioplasty (PTCA) may be successfully treated with PTCA during ECMO. Five patients (3 men, 2 women), with a mean age of 57 years, are reported on here. They were not considered good candidates for standard therapy because of poor left ventricular function (mean EF, 24; range, 16 to 28%). Patients were supported by percutaneous femoral bypass using a BARD CPS machine, and underwent successful PTCA of either two vessels (three patients) or three vessels (two patients); in addition, one patient had dilatation of a stenotic aortic valve. Patients were supported with ECMO for 26 to 140 (mean 104) minutes, and required transfusion with 0 to 4 (mean 2) units of blood during or after the procedure. Complications included groin hematoma in two patients. All were discharged within 4 days of the procedure. Follow-up of the patients has been completed (4-7 mo) with no further hospitalizations for unstable angina. All patients remain in NYHA Class II or III. These data suggest that ECMO-assisted angioplasty is a safe and effective method of palliation of unstable angina associated with cardiomyopathy.
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange 92613.
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Ott
authors: T C
authors: TC
authors: Mills
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Tobis
authors: B J
authors: BJ
authors: Allen
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Dwyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000628:therapy*; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000628:therapy; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000628:therapy*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors