Perfusion
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Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is widely utilized to make timely decisions regarding patient care. This approach allowed us to diagnose the cause of acutely rising transaminases in a patient in severe ARDS secondary to influenza pneumonia requiring veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). ⋯ Ultrasound played an integral role in providing a crucial diagnosis of BCS secondary to obstruction by an ECMO drainage catheter.
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Intracranial hemorrhage is one of the most dreaded complications associated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. However, robust data to guide clinical practice are lacking. We aimed to describe the current perceptions and practices surrounding the risk, prevention, diagnosis, management, and prognosis of intracranial hemorrhage in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. ⋯ We found significant heterogeneity in the perceptions and practices. This underlines the need for more research to appropriately guide patient management. Importantly, neuroimaging was performed only in a minority of patients. Considering the important management implications reported by most centers when intracranial hemorrhage is diagnosed, perhaps clinicians should consider widening their indications for early neuroimaging.