• K Yamamoto, Y Maruyama, H Ohzeki, M Shinonaga, M Ueno, and S Eguch.
• Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Niigata Kobari Hospital, Japan.
• Nihon Kyobu Geka Gakkai Zasshi. 1995 Apr 1;43(4):547-52.

AbstractA 69-year-old woman, who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) after coronary artery bypass grafting, underwent venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) because conventional ventilatory support was ineffective. We used a covalently bonded heparin surface ECMO system, including an artificial lung, a centrifugal pump, cannulas, tubing and connectors, that was maintained with low-dose systemic heparinization, the patient was weaned from ECMO after 186 hours. During ECMO, her platelet count was about half of the initial level and markedly elevated thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), plasmin-alpha 2 plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC) and D-dimer were decreased by the use of heparin and protease inhibitors. V-V ECMO seems to be useful even in patients with severe adult respiratory failure and can be performed safely if a heparin covalent circuit is applied.

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