First surgical experience treating scoliosis using HGT and ECMO: a case report
Oriol Pujol1, Felipe Moreira2, Joan Balcells3
1Spinal Surgery Unit, Orthopedic Surgery Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Pg. Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain. opujol@vhebron.net.
Case Presentation:
A 13-year-old female with congenital diaphragmatic hernia-associated pulmonary hypertension presented with severe and rapidly progressing scoliosis. The patient suffered from chronic respiratory failure and high risk of hypertensive crisis with potentially life-threating consequences. The scoliosis was treated with a multidisciplinary approach combining preoperative halo-gravity traction, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support and posterior spinal instrumented fusion. After 2 years of follow-up, results are excellent.
Conclusions:
The treatment combination reported here for the first time aims to limit surgical aggressiveness. It could be an effective and safe approach for treating severe spinal deformities in very fragile patients with high surgical risk.
