Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  2010 Feb;43(1):104-107.

Application of Veno-venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Multitrauma Patient with ARDS: A case report

• Lee SJ
• Chee HK
• Hwang JJ
• Kim JS
• Lee SA
• Kim JS

Abstract

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is difficult to treat and it is often fatal. If the medical treatment for ARDS is not effective, then extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be applied to the patient. A 22-year-old female who suffered multiple traumatic injuries due to a car accident presented with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Veinarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) was started to treat her respiratory failure. With the VA ECMO, the systemic oxygen saturation remained at only 84%, and so the ECMO system was switched to V-VA ECMO via an additional venous outflow through the right jugular vein to increase both the systemic and pulmonary oxygen saturation. After conversion to the V-VA type ECMO, the systemic oxygen saturation increased to 94% and the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) increased to 65 mmHg. We report here on a successful case of ECMO conversion from the VA type to the V-VA type in a patient with severely hypoxic respiratory failure.

Keyword

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); Multiple trauma; Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

MeSH Terms

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Female
Humans
Jugular Veins
Multiple Trauma
Oxygen
Partial Pressure
Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult
Respiratory Insufficiency
Young Adult
Oxygen