[Successful emergency surgical management following cardiac massage in a patient with acute myocardial infarction due to total obstruction of the left main trunk].

The prognosis in patients manifesting shock following acute myocardial infarction due to total occlusion of the left main trunk (LMT) is usually very poor and so is the lifesaving rate. Accurate judgement and rapid response are key to the successful management of this disease. We experienced a successful case with emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on the 14 the day after initial attack. The patient, who had total occlusion of LMT, underwent a PTCA (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) during the initial attack under cardiac massage. We think in situations where patients have cardiac arrest, shock, elevated CPK levels suggesting devastation of myocardium due either to LMT or severe triple vessels disease, early catheter intervention rather than emergency CABG would be much more tolerable as long as hemodynamic situation allows. Our previous experience taught us that immediate surgical intervention with CABG usually resulted in poor outcome. Further refinements regarding the surgical procedure, technique, assist circulatory supports, cardioplegia, etc., are indispensable before trying to have a successful emergency CABG.