McLaughlin A, McGiffin D, Winearls J, Tesar P, Cole C, Vallely M, Clarke A, Fraser J
Heart Lung Circ 2016 Nov;25(11):1063-1066
PMID: 27374861
Abstract
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a complex rescue therapy utilised to provide circulatory and/or respiratory support to critically ill patients who have failed maximal conventional therapy. The use of ECMO in adult cardiac surgery is not routine, occurring in a minority of critically ill patients, typically postoperatively. Presented here are three cases of post-infarct ventricular septal defect with cardiogenic shock managed preoperatively with ECMO support as a bridge to definitive surgical closure. We present a review of ECMO in the adult cardiac surgical population and highlight the potential role of preoperative ECMO for cardiogenic shock in the setting of post-infarct ventricular septal defect (PI VSD) as a bridge to definitive closure.
