Use of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to urgent lung transplantation in a case of acute respiratory failure.
Several transplant centers consider pretransplant extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a contraindication for lung transplantation because of the poor outcomes. However, some technical improvements have changed the scenario; there is increasing evidence of ECMO efficacy as a bridge to lung transplantation. This report describes the successful use of venovenous ECMO as a bridge to an urgent bilateral lung transplantation and as treatment for primary graft dysfunction in a case of hyperacute pulmonary fibrosis in a 58-year-old man. Our experience demonstrated that ECMO, using Quadrox, supported respiratory functions for 28 days without any detrimental effects, serving as a successfully bridge to urgent lung transplantation.
Santambrogio
L
L
Thoracic Surgical Unit, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Milan, Italy.
Nosotti
M
M
Palleschi
A
A
Tosi
D
D
Mendogni
P
P
Lissoni
A
A
Blasi
F
F
Rosso
L
L
D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*