title: Fulminant peripartum cardiomyopathy rescue with extracorporeal membranous oxygenation.
abstract: We report the successful use of extracorporeal membranous oxygenation in a previously healthy parturient with fulminant peripartum cardiomyopathy. Native cardiac function recovered rapidly, with weaning from extracorporeal membranous oxygenation after only 68 h. This case highlights the potential of this lifesaving treatment, in appropriately selected patients, where death seems inevitable. No major complications of extracorporeal membranous oxygenation occurred in this patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic, Auckland City Hospital, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand. ismith@adhb.govt.nz
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gillham
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General; D002404:Catheterization; D003422:Critical Care; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult