Key result
V-AV ECMO successfully bridges postpartum pheochromocytoma-induced cardiac arrest to uncomplicated tumor resection.
Why the study?
Although VA-ECMO has been used to support patients with pheochromocytoma-induced cardiac arrest, the use of a veno-arteriovenous configuration has not been previously described.
Case Report (n=1)
This case describes the first published use of veno-arteriovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-AV ECMO) configuration to successfully manage a complex cardiac arrest induced by a pheochromocytoma.
A 34-year-old woman, 2 days post-partum, was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for management of hypertensive crisis and respiratory failure. An 18-cm left adrenal mass was found on computed tomography (CT), suspicious for a pheochromocytoma. After cardiac arrest, the patient was placed on veno-arteriovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-AV ECMO) given recurrent destabilizing arrhythmias. After successful ECMO decannulation, the patient underwent an uncomplicated resection of her adrenal mass. Although VA-ECMO has been used to support patients with pheochromocytoma, this appears to be the first published case describing the use of a V-AV configuration in the management of a complex cardiac arrest.
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Agyei et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Pheochromocytoma-induced cardiac arrest (n=1). Veno-arteriovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-AV ECMO) was evaluated on Survival and successful resection of adrenal mass. Veno-arteriovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation successfully supported a post-partum patient with pheochromocytoma-induced cardiac arrest, allowing for uncomplicated tumor resection.
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