Pulmonary artery cannulation during venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: An alternative to manage refractory hypoxemia and right ventricular dysfunction

Abstract

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has become a rescue therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to COVID-19 for patients who are refractory to conventional therapy. However, this therapy comes with complications, and alternative cannulation strategies are needed to overcome these difficulties. In this article, we present a case of venovenous ECMO presenting with refractory hypoxemia and right ventricular dysfunction, which were corrected by cannulating the pulmonary artery. This situation is rarely reported in literature and may constitute an alternative for managing these patients.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation