Emergency department initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass: a case report and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest carries a dismal prognosis. Percutaneous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used with success for in-hospital arrests, and some literature suggests improvement in long-term survival for out-of-hospital arrests as well.


OBJECTIVE
This case highlights the use of ECMO in the emergency department.


METHODS
We report a case in which emergency physician-initiated ECMO was used as a bridge to definitive care in an out-of- hospital cardiac arrest in the United States.


CONCLUSIONS
ECMO is a novel adjunct for patients in cardiac arrest in whom the usual advanced life support techniques have failed.
Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, California, USA.
Zachary
Z
Shinar
Joe
J
Bellezzo
Norman
N
Paradis
Walter
W
Dembitsky
Brian
B
Jaski
William
W
Mallon
Tim
T
Watt
D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058687:Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / Q000628:therapy*