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Published on: October 18, 2024
Successful management of fulminant pulmonary embolism using a novel portable extracorporeal life support system
Lars O Conzelmann1, Uwe Mehlhorn, Ernst Weigang
1Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany. lars.conzelmann@gmx.de
Abstract:
A 46-year-old man presented to the emergency room with pain in his left leg, dyspnea, and general cyanosis. During examination he collapsed and required resuscitation. Under suspicion of pulmonary embolism, a new portable "click 'n run" extracorporeal life support system (LIFEBRIDGE-B(2)T [Medizintechnik AG, Ampfing, Germany]) was implanted by the femoral vessels under resuscitation within 15 minutes of presentation. The patient was stabilized, despite severe decompensation (pH, 6.8), and could be transferred for a computed tomographic scan, which confirmed massive pulmonary embolism. Still connected to the life support system, the patient was transferred to the operating room. After a pulmonary thrombectomy was performed, the patient recovered without any organ dysfunction. A portable emergency extracorporeal life support may change clinical practice in the treatment of patients with severe hemodynamic deterioration at emergency care hospitals.
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