A child with anterior mediastinal mass supported with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the utility of rescue with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and to demonstrate the feasibility of administration of chemotherapy during VA-ECMO in a child with an anterior mediastinal mass. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Large, tertiary care, pediatric intensive care unit. PATIENT: One patient with cardiopulmonary collapse in the setting of a new diagnosis of an anterior mediastinal mass. INTERVENTIONS: Cardiopulmonary support with VA-ECMO; administration of chemotherapy during VA-ECMO. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Successful rescue with VA-ECMO and successful chemotherapy while on VA-ECMO. CONCLUSIONS: VA-ECMO can be successfully used to support patients with cardiopulmonary failure during initial diagnosis of an anterior mediastinal mass. In addition, we have demonstrated that successful chemotherapy can be administered while the patient is supported on VA-ECMO.