Open AccessSomatic Support with Veno-venous ECMO in a Pregnant Woman with Brain Death: A Case Report
Author(s) -
Leonardo Salazar,
Lovkesh Arora,
Maria M. Botia,
Maria Azuceiño,
Antonio Figueredo,
Jorge Alvarado,
Norma C. Serrano,
Carlos Riaño,
Camilo Pizarro
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
asaio journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.961
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1538-943X
pISSN - 1058-2916
DOI - 10.1097/mat.0000000000001411
Subject(s) - extracorporeal membrane oxygenation , medicine , intensive care medicine , multidisciplinary team , extracorporeal , fetus , gestation , hypoxemia , somatic cell , respiratory distress , acute respiratory distress , pregnancy , pediatrics , surgery , anesthesia , lung , biochemistry , chemistry , nursing , biology , gene , genetics
Supporting homeostasis in a pregnant woman with brain death to achieve fetal viability is called somatic support. We present a case of young pregnant woman at 21 weeks' gestation who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to influenza A H2N3 infection requiring veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) support for refractory hypoxemia. The clinical course was complicated by intracranial hemorrhage and subsequent brain death. After multidisciplinary team discussion with her family, consensus was reached to continue somatic support with VV ECMO to enable fetal development to attain extrauterine viability. The challenging clinical, ethical, and legal concerns are discussed.