Cardiac arrest with refractory ventricular fibrillation: a successful resuscitation using extracorporeal membrane...

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a form of a mechanical cardiopulmonary life-support system and an adjunct to prolonged cardiac resuscitation. The ECMO results in good outcomes for patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest. We present a case of a 52-year-old man with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest caused by refractory ventricular fibrillation. The patient was referred to our emergency department with suspected acute coronary syndrome. Cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation was refractory to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In this case, the ECMO–cardiopulmonary resuscitation provided cardiopulmonary life support for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, achieving a sustained return of spontaneous circulation that allowed prompt percutaneous coronary intervention and a good recovery.