[The treatment of accompanied organ failure after thoracic and cardiovascular surgery with mechanical organ-supports].

Five hundred and thirty-three patients have been treated after thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in our ICU during the last four years. Cardiac failure was shown in 150 cases, respiratory failure in 132 cases, renal failure in 76 cases, and hepatic failure in 84 cases. The appropriate mechanical organ-supports (MOS) were applied in the following cases: intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) in 48 cases, veno-arterial bypass (VAB) in 18 cases, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in 1 case, respirator in 132 cases, continuous hemofiltration (CHF) in 44 cases, hemodialysis (HD) in 13 cases, peritoneal dialysis (PD) in 21 cases, Continuous intensive peritoneal dialysis (CIPD) in 7 cases, and plasma exchange (PEx) in 22 cases. The results of MOS6 which required exocorporeal circulation were not satisfactory, especially CHF (mortality rate 75.0%), HD (76.9%), and VAB (100%). Though, the results of IABP (35.4%) and CIPD (14.3%) were significantly better. The main cause of early death (within 6 post-operative days) was low output syndrome (LOS) (63.6%). However, that of late death (beyond 14 post-operative days) was sepsis (66.7%). Therefore, it is important for the survival of these patients to control LOS during the early post operative period and then to concentrate on the prevention of infection.