Acute left main coronary artery occlusion. Survival following emergent coronary bypass.

Emergent aortocoronary bypass surgery for acute myocardial infarction is controversial. We describe a patient with total occlusion of the left main coronary artery associated with acute anterior wall infarction and refractory cardiogenic shock. The patient underwent successful emergent coronary bypass surgery to manage refractory cardiogenic shock. He has subsequently experienced a prolonged survival (60 months postsurgery). This report suggests that emergent aortocoronary bypass surgery should be considered in patients with acute myocardial infarction with refractory cardiogenic shock in whom other forms of reperfusion are unsuccessful.