title: [Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment for a patient with life-threatening asthma].
abstract: This is a case report of a young male with life-threatening asthma presenting hypercapnia and respiratory acidosis despite mechanical ventilation and intense broncholytic medication. He was treated with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) through a double-lumen catheter placed in the right jugular vein. This patient, as well as two other comparable patients, improved respiratory and circulatory within 3 h of VV-ECMO treatment. Smaller low-flow ECMO devices for CO₂ removal are emerging but attention should be kept on the fact, that they are not capable of oxygenation.
authors.affiliation: Medicinsk Afdeling, Amager Hospital, Italiensvej 1, 2300 København S. E-mail: marie_vejen@mail.com.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vejen
authors.forename: Aage
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greisen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016638:Critical Illness; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male