Salvage of postoperative pulmonary hypertensive crisis using ECMO via cervical cannulation in a case of truncus arteriosus.
The survival of patients with truncus arteriosus beyond one year of age is rare without surgical treatment [3 . Early surgery may be associated with a mortality but is still preferable, as the risks of established pulmonary hypertensive disease complicate delayed surgery [2]. We report the successful salvage of a pulmonary hypertensive crisis 24 h after corrective surgery in a late presenting patient using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) via cervical cannulation. Post-operative pulmonary hypertensive crises may present a difficult management problem. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is therapeutic in these circumstances in addition to providing life support. Cervical cannulation remains the method of choice in the postoperative cardiac patient.
Pearson
G A
GA
Regional Cardiothoracic Unit, Groby Road Hospital, Leicester, UK.
Sosnowski
A
A
Chan
K C
KC
Firmin
R K
RK
D002404:Catheterization; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007223:Infant; D009333:Neck; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D014339:Truncus Arteriosus, Persistent / Q000601:surgery*