title: Emergent echocardiography and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: Lifesaving in massive pulmonary embolism.
abstract: Massive pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening emergency that results in circulatory failure. The main challenges in management are early diagnosis and maintenance of hemodynamic stability. We present a case of a 63-year-old male who was in cardiac arrest. After resuscitation, massive pulmonary embolism was diagnosed with the help of bedside echocardiography and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). We were able to maintain hemodynamic stability and improve hypoxia until the patient underwent embolectomy. This case demonstrates a common presentation of massive pulmonary embolism highlighting the main challenges in its management and the role of echocardiography and ECMO in improving outcomes in such scenarios.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Toledo, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammed Andaleeb
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Toledo, College of Medicine, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
authors.forename: Ankush
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moza
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Toledo, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Nauman Saleem
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Toledo, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonnell
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Toledo, College of Medicine, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH 43614, USA. Electronic address: Chritopher.Cooper@utoledo.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D017128:Embolectomy / Q000379:methods; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012769:Shock / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Cardiogenic shock; Echocardiography; Embolectomy; Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Pulmonary embolism