Emergency use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a patient with post-cardiotomy myocardial stunning.

Myocardial stunning refers to reversible postischemic myocardial dysfunction persisting after reperfusion. We report a patient who presented with biventricular failure, but exhibited neither definite electrocardiographic change nor elevation of serum cardiac enzyme levels in the post-cardiotomy period. The presentation was indicative of myocardial stunning. The patient's hemodynamics could not be maintained even with infusion of high doses of catecholamines. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation successfully restored myocardial function. In conclusion, when the hemodynamic status of a patient with myocardial stunning cannot be maintained with inotropic agents, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation should be considered.