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Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a rescue of intractable ventricular fibrillation and bridge to heart transplantation
Author(s) -
Fux Thomas,
Svenarud Peter,
Grinnemo KarlHenrik,
Albåge Anders,
Bredin Fredrik,
Linden Jan,
Hagerman Inger,
Gabrielsen Anders,
Lund Lars H.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1093/eurjhf/hfq012
Subject(s) - medicine , extracorporeal membrane oxygenation , rescue therapy , cardiology , bridge to transplantation , heart transplantation , heart failure , ventricular fibrillation , transplantation , bridge (graph theory)
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) systems have undergone rapid technological improvements and are now feasible options for medium‐term support of severe cardiac or pulmonary failure. Intractable ventricular arrhythmia is a rare but well‐established indication for heart transplantation. We report a case of persistent ventricular fibrillation (VF) that was rescued by insertion of peripheral veno‐arterial ECMO during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which provided support for 30 h of continuous VF and subsequently permitted urgent heart transplantation.