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Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Utilizing Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Devices in Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock
Published on: June 12, 2021
[ECMO support in a child with cardiogenic shock due to Kingella Kingae endocarditis]
N Van Sint Jan1, C Valverde2, C Baeza3
1Escuela de Medicina, U. de Chile, Chile.
Insights
This case report details the first instance of Kingella Kingae (KK) endocarditis in a child requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. The successful use of ECMO highlights its potential in managing severe pediatric infectious endocarditis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Infective endocarditis (IE) is uncommon in children, particularly without prior cardiac conditions.
- Kingella Kingae (KK) is a rare causative agent of pediatric IE.
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides vital cardiopulmonary support during failure.
Observation:
- A 19-month-old previously healthy female presented with fever and hand-foot-and-mouth disease, rapidly progressing to refractory cardiogenic shock and multiorgan failure.
- Veno-arterial ECMO was initiated due to severe hemodynamic compromise.
- Transthoracic echocardiography revealed mitral valve vegetation, confirming IE caused by KK, with subsequent stroke and two cardiac surgeries.
Findings:
- This is the first reported case of KK-associated IE necessitating ECMO support.
- The patient experienced a favorable outcome with ECMO and surgical intervention, being discharged after 73 days.
- One-year follow-up showed no cardiac sequelae, though mild hemiparesis persisted.
Implications:
- This case underscores that KK endocarditis, though rare, can lead to severe outcomes including multiorgan failure.
- ECMO can be a life-saving intervention for pediatric patients with severe IE and cardiogenic shock.
- Early recognition and aggressive management, including ECMO, are crucial for improving survival in complex pediatric IE cases.
Introduction:
Endocarditis is a rare disease in children, especially in those without previous heart disease, and Kingella Kingae (KK) is rarely identified as the cause. Extracorporeal membrane oxyge nation (ECMO) is a support for both heart and respiratory failure.
Objective:
To report the first case of infectious endocarditis (IE) due to KK which required ECMO support secondary to refractory cardiogenic shock.
Clinical Case:
19-months-old previously healthy female patient, with a 2-day his tory of fever, and diagnosed with hand-foot-and-mouth disease. The patient developed refractory cardiogenic shock, multiorgan failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and deep hemodynamic compromise that required veno-arterial ECMO support. The echography showed an image compa tible with mitral valve vegetation, confirming IE with transthoracic echocardiography. Blood culture was positive for KK. She had an ischemic stroke and required two heart surgeries, the first one for the mass resection and the second one for mitral valve repair, which had a posterior ring pseudoa neurysm. The patient had a favorable evolution and was discharged 73 days after admission. At one year of follow-up, she had no cardiological symptoms, but a mild right brachial-crural hemiparesis persisted.
Conclusion:
This is the first reported case of IE due to KK that required extracorporeal life support. KK endocarditis is an uncommon pathology that can cause multiorgan failure, which can be successfully supported with ECMO.
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