Emergency portable cardiopulmonary bypass for abrupt left main occlusion during coronary angioplasty. Excellent long-term survival.

A 53-year-old man had total occlusion of the left main coronary artery with subsequent cardiac arrest during attempted angioplasty of the circumflex coronary artery. Conventional resuscitation was unsuccessful. However, emergent portable cardiopulmonary bypass support in the catheterization laboratory contributed to excellent long-term survival. Portable cardiopulmonary bypass support is a valuable resuscitative tool readily available in the catheterization laboratory setting.