Long-term prognosis of fulminant myocarditis rescued by percutaneous cardiopulmonary support device.

Background: The long-term prognosis and cardiac function of fulminant myocarditis treated with percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) was compared with the outcome of those not treated with PCPS.

Methods And Results: From 1991 to 2000, 14 patients with fulminant myocarditis (left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) < or =40%) were admitted to hospital. PCPS was necessary for treatment of shock in 8 (PCPS group), but not for the remaining 6 patients (non-PCPS group). In the PCPS group, 6 patients (75%) survived the critical phase and did not have any cardiac problems after discharge (range of follow-up period, 1.4-6.0 years). All patients in the non-PCPS group survived the acute phase; 1 patient had congestive heart failure 1.5 years after discharge, and another died from malignancy (follow-up period range, 2.2-9.4 years). Although the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of the PCPS group was significantly lower than that of the non-PCPS group in the acute phase, there was no significant difference in LVEF between the 2 groups in the chronic phase.

Conclusion: Patients who survive the acute phase crisis of acute myocarditis have a favorable long-term survival rate, whether or not mechanical support is used.