Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  2007 Jul;40(7):512-516.

Extracorporeal Life Support with a Twin-pulse Life Support (T-PLS) System

• Lee DH
• Jung TE
• Lee JH

Abstract

A mechanical circulatory support system is a life-saving option for treating acute severe respiratory failure or cardiac failure. There are currently a few types of assist devices and the Twin-Pulse Life Support (T-PLS) system is a kind of pulsatile pump. We report here on three patients with severe life threatening cardiopulmonary dysfunction who had the T-PLS system used as an assist device. The indications for applying the T-PLS system were continuing respiratory or cardiac failure in spite of maximal ventilatory and inotropic support. There were two patients with acute respiratory failure due to infection and one patient with cardiac failure due to acute myocarditis. One respiratory failure patient and one cardiac failure patient survived after applying the T-PLS system for 3 days and 5 days, respectively. The T-PLS system is useful as an assist device and it should be considered before multi-organ failure occurs.

Keyword

Extracorporeal circulation; Assist device; Pulsatile pump

MeSH Terms

Extracorporeal Circulation
Heart Failure
Humans
Myocarditis
Respiratory Insufficiency