[A case of extended myocardial infarction treated with the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) before and after the operation--the value and limitation of LVAD].

A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) was applied to a patient who had profound left ventricular failure following extended myocardial infarction caused by the left main trunk obstruction. The patient was a 61-year-old man, who had severe chest distress and was admitted 11 hours after the onset of the symptom. At the time of admission, he was already in cardiogenic shock. The emergent coronary angiography showed complete obstruction of the left main trunk and the intact right coronary artery which had no collateral flow to the left coronary artery. The intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) was started bu could not maintain the satisfied circulation. Then a LVAD was applied to the patient 5 days after the onset. The LVAD maintained the normal circulation and prohibited exaspiration of organ failure. 19 days after the onset, scartectomy and A-C bypass to LAD was performed. The patient could not be weaned from LVAD and died of right ventricular failure following ventricular arrhythmia 20 days after the installation of LVAD. The use of LVAD for nonoperative cardiogenic shock is rare. Circulatory support with a LVAD in the treatment of a patient in cardiogenic shock following a acute myocardial infarction was considered useful.