ASAIO journal : a peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs
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A low-resistance membrane oxygenator [interventional lung assist (iLA), Novalung, Hirrlingen, Germany] has been placed in series with a pulsatile extracorporeal left ventricular assist device (LVAD, Berlin Heart EXCOR, Berlin, Germany) in 1 circuit in a patient with postcardiotomy cardiopulmonary failure subsequent to 5 days of extracorporeal life support (ECLS or ECMO). This concept offers an intermediate step between ECLS and mechanical ventilation in this particular patient population. ⋯ As a result, mechanical ventilation became sufficient after 48 hours, and the iLA was then removed easily out of the circuit. In conclusion, this case demonstrates the feasibility of integrating a low-resistance membrane oxygenator for additional lung support in extracorporeal LVAD patients.