Korean J Med.  2009 Aug;77(Suppl 1):S87-S92.

Two cases of acute fulminant myocarditis supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

• Park SB
• Jung HR
• Rhee HR
• Kim TK
• Lee HC
• Hong TJ
• Shin YW

Abstract

Myocarditis is defined as inflammation of the myocardium caused by viral, richettsial, bacterial, or protozoal infection, or drug toxicity. The clinical course of patients with myocarditis varies from subclinical disease to fulminant myocarditis (FM). FM occurs rapidly and causes heart failure or lethal arrhythmia, often leading to death by cardiogenic shock due to severe left ventricular dysfunction. For some critical patients who have difficulty maintaining hemodynamic status, percutaneous cardiopulmonary support, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and/or a mechanical ventricular assist device are available alternative choices. Here we report cases of patients with FM who were treated using ECMO during the acute stages of the illness.

Keyword

Cardiogenic shock; Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO); Fulminant myocarditis; Myocarditis

MeSH Terms

Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Drug Toxicity
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Heart Failure
Heart-Assist Devices
Hemodynamics
Humans
Inflammation
Myocarditis
Myocardium
Shock, Cardiogenic
Ventricular Dysfunction, Left