ASAIO journal : a peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs
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The successful use of femoral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to support an adult patient with extrinsic airway compression secondary to a large mediastinal tumor is presented. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was continued until a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy allowed sufficient tumor shrinkage to permit decannulation. This method should be considered and available before manipulation of the airway in similar patients.
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Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy remains a life saving modality for neonates with cardiopulmonary disease that is unresponsive to conventional therapy. Vital to its success is the insertion and maintenance of appropriately sized vascular cannulas. Problematic insertion and accidental dislodgments can be life threatening. ⋯ The 10 cases of accidental dislodgment were most often associated with changes in position. Despite copious hemorrhage in many instances, 6 of 10 patients survived with intact neurologic status. Methods for dealing with these life threatening cannula related complications are described.