Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation combined with open pericardiectomy successfully reversed cardiogenic shock and facilitated cardiac recovery in a patient with acute fulminant myocarditis.
Case Report (n=1)
No
VA-ECMO can be successfully utilized as a life-saving bridge to advanced surgical interventions, such as staged pericardiectomy, in patients presenting with acute fulminant myocarditis.
Myocarditis is an inflammatory pathology of the heart muscle, often resulting from viral or bacterial infections and, very occasionally, due to drug toxicity. Acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM), the most severe subtype, is an underdiagnosed, life-threatening condition characterized by sudden worsening of cardiac function progressing to cardiogenic shock or multiorgan failure. It remains associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, often secondary to delayed diagnosis. Despite its profound presentation, AFM may demonstrate significant reversibility when recognized early and treated aggressively. Here, we present a challenging case of a middle-aged male patient who presented with AFM and required a multimodal approach in his successful management. The patient required veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support as a bridge to advanced surgical procedures, including staged pericardiectomy and other supportive measures.
Manoly et al. (Tue,) conducted a case report in Acute Fulminant Myocarditis (n=1). Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and open pericardiectomy was evaluated on Clinical recovery and survival. Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation combined with open pericardiectomy successfully reversed cardiogenic shock and facilitated cardiac recovery in a patient with acute fulminant myocarditis.