title: The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in severe necrotizing soft tissue infections complicated by septic shock.
abstract: Necrotizing soft tissue infections remain a challenging clinical problem. Delays in diagnosis, incomplete débridement of necrotic tissues, and the hemodynamic instability and end-organ failure associated with overwhelming sepsis all contribute to significant mortality. Extracorporeal support is a well-established tool to support profound cardiopulmonary failure. To broaden the indications for use, we present two cases of young adults with necrotizing soft tissue infections who sustained sepsis-induced hemodynamic collapse and required extracorporeal support to facilitate adequate tissue débridement as a bridge to recovery.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43212, USA. Michael.firstenberg@osumc.edu
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Firstenberg
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blais
authors.forename: Louis B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Chittoor
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sai-Sudhakar
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003646:Debridement; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents