ABSTRACT
A 49-year-old man who had had severe tripple vessel coronary disease and low left ventricular function (EF=29%) underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Following the procedure he could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) even with an intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP). Left ventricular assist using a centrifugal pump (CFP) together with IABP was then utilized with a dramatic recovery from profound postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock, and the CPB was successfully terminated. The left ventricular function recovered gradually from intraoperative myocardial damage. The CFP was successfully removed at 86 LHB hour and the IABP at 9th postoperative day. At present 12 months after LHB, he reveals no angina. Settting up the left ventricular support using a CFP is simple and not-time-consuming, so this system with IABP is of practical use in the case of unpredicted postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock.