title: Successful management of fulminant pulmonary embolism using a novel portable extracorporeal life support system.
abstract: A 46-year-old man presented to the emergency room with pain in his left leg, dyspnea, and general cyanosis. During examination he collapsed and required resuscitation. Under suspicion of pulmonary embolism, a new portable "click 'n run" extracorporeal life support system (LIFEBRIDGE-B(2)T [Medizintechnik AG, Ampfing, Germany]) was implanted by the femoral vessels under resuscitation within 15 minutes of presentation. The patient was stabilized, despite severe decompensation (pH, 6.8), and could be transferred for a computed tomographic scan, which confirmed massive pulmonary embolism. Still connected to the life support system, the patient was transferred to the operating room. After a pulmonary thrombectomy was performed, the patient recovered without any organ dysfunction. A portable emergency extracorporeal life support may change clinical practice in the treatment of patients with severe hemodynamic deterioration at emergency care hospitals.
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany. lars.conzelmann@gmx.de
authors: Lars O
authors: LO
authors: Conzelmann
authors: Uwe
authors: U
authors: Mehlhorn
authors: Ernst
authors: E
authors: Weigang
authors: Nalan
authors: N
authors: Kayhan
authors: Christian F
authors: CF
authors: Vahl
mesh_terms: D022561:Advanced Cardiac Life Support / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction