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.
Regional Cardiothoracic Unit, Groby Road Hospital, Leicester, UK.
G A
GA
Pearson
A
A
Sosnowski
K C
KC
Chan
R K
RK
Firmin
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*