Key result
Venovenous ECMO in the prone position successfully supported a 37-year-old male with near-fatal asthma and barotrauma, leading to successful weaning after 5 days.
Why the study?
Near-fatal asthma can cause severe hypercapnia and sudden cardiac arrest, but may be reversed by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Does venovenous ECMO improve outcomes in patients with near-fatal asthma refractory to conventional mechanical ventilation?
Case Report (n=1)
Does venovenous ECMO improve outcomes in patients with near-fatal asthma refractory to conventional mechanical ventilation?
Venovenous ECMO can serve as an effective rescue therapy for patients with near-fatal asthma experiencing severe respiratory distress and barotrauma refractory to mechanical ventilation.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Adds case-level support for venovenous ECMO rescue in refractory near-fatal asthma; leaves open need for controlled trials.
Near-fatal asthma (NFA) can lead to severe hypercapnia and sudden cardiac arrest; however, it can be reversed by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). We report a case of a 37-year-old male diagnosed with NFA. After fluid rehydaration, spasmolysis, and treatment with glucocorticoid and mechanical ventilation, the patient's condition improved temporarily. However, his condition worsened rapidly, and the patient presented with progressive respiratory distress, a sharp increase in airway pressure, decreased tidal volume, and barotrauma. The patient was treated with venovenous ECMO in the prone position. Five days later, the patient was successfully weaned from ECMO. Hence, ECMO could be used for NFA at the right time to provide adequate gas exchange for patients in order to reduce lung damage and prevent death.
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Xu et al. (2023) conducted a case report in Near-fatal asthma (NFA) (n=1). Venovenous ECMO in the prone position was evaluated. Venovenous ECMO in the prone position successfully supported a 37-year-old male with near-fatal asthma and barotrauma, leading to successful weaning after 5 days.
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