Successful weaning from a left ventricular assist device after surgical repair of a left ventricular free wall rupture.

We present a case of an insertion of a left ventricular assist device for severe cardiac failure after the repair of a left ventricular free wall rupture. A 72-year-old man was admitted with chest pain and unconsciousness, and required emergency surgical repair of a left ventricular free wall rupture under percutaneous cardiopulmonary support. Severe cardiac failure occurred postoperatively, and weaning from percutaneous cardiopulmonary support was impossible. We implanted a left ventricular assist device, and this could be removed at one week after implantation. The left ventricular assist device was very useful as a "bridge to recovery".