Open AccessComplete pulmonary recovery after COVID-19 infection requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A case report
Author(s) -
Michael S. Firstenberg,
Matthew Libby,
Rachele Roberts,
Courtney Petersen,
Jennifer M. Hanna
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of critical illness and injury science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.274
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 2231-5004
pISSN - 2229-5151
DOI - 10.4103/ijciis.ijciis_132_20
Subject(s) - extracorporeal membrane oxygenation , medicine , covid-19 , extracorporeal , intensive care medicine , oxygenation , virology , cardiology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , disease , outbreak
Severe pulmonary complications associated with COVID-19 infections are a substantial source of morbidity and/or mortality. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been shown to be a potentially useful therapy in the management of severe COVID-19 infection as a means to facilitate pulmonary recovery. Despite growing evidence to demonstrate the utility of ECMO for COVID-19 respiratory failure, little is known regarding the posthospital discharge recovery and functional status of these patients. Furthermore, concerns regarding potential long-term complications, but data are lacking. We illustrate a case of a previously healthy male, who was supported on ECMO for severe COVID-19 who demonstrated what appears to be a complete subjective and objective pulmonary recovery within a short time postdischarge. Our case provides some optimisms that critically-ill COVID-19 patients might recover completely and be able to return to functional lives.