Successful bilateral lung transplantation after prolonged ECMO support for aspiration pneumonia in a 79-year-old man

Aspiration pneumonia is a serious problem in the elderly due to weakened swallowing reflexes or underlying gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which can become life-threatening, sometimes requiring extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Lung transplantation is a possible therapeutic option for patients with no signs of lung recovery despite prolonged ECMO support. However, this can be a particularly challenging situation in a geriatric population. We report the case of a 79-year-old male with aspiration pneumonia leading to severe ARDS who underwent successful bilateral lung transplantation after 60 days of ECMO support.