Bridge to recovery: A case of V-V ECMO following V-A ECMO in Eisenmenger syndrome

Abstract

We report a case of successful treatment for a severe acute pulmonary hypertension crisis in a patient with Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) associated with patent ductus arteriosus following trauma-related spine surgery, utilizing both veno-arterial (V-A) and veno-venous (V-V) ECMO. The patient’s clinical course was complicated by right ventricular failure amid a pulmonary hypertensive crisis, necessitating V-A ECMO support. Persistent hypoxia, despite improved right heart function, warranted transition to V-V ECMO. This case demonstrates that peripheral V-A ECMO can be safely employed to decompress the right heart in the presence of a significant PDA shunt. Furthermore, weaning from ECMO in these patients requires a much higher hematocrit in order to compensate for the chronic hypoxia.

Keywords

mechanical circulatory support Eisenmenger syndrome pulmonary hypertensive crisis right ventricular failure bridge to recovery extracorporeal membrane oxygenation heart failure

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