Temporary left-sided mechanical cardiac support during acute myocarditis.

Acute myocarditis is usually a self-limiting viral illness. Rarely, however, myocardial depression can be profound leading to circulatory collapse. Mechanical cardiac support in the form of intraaortic balloon pumps or ventricular assist devices have been used in these unusual cases to maintain systemic perfusion until transplantation or left ventricular recovery occurs. We report a young patient with acute myocarditis who required left heart mechanical support and who, however, was successfully weaned despite only minimal myocardial recovery.