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Updated: May 20, 2025

Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Mouse
Published on: October 24, 2018
[Severe respiratory failure from COVID-19 pneumonia treated with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Luis Gisli Rabelo1, Sigurdur Ingi Magnusson2, Carlos Magnus Rabelo3
1Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland, Departments of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Landspitali, University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Abstract:
Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) therapy can be indicated as a last resort treatment in severe respiratory failure. It is a complex and resource demanding treatment that can pose challenges, particularly during a pandemic such as COVID-19. We report two cases of previously healthy, middle-aged men who suffered severe respiratory failure following COVID-19 pneumonia. Both patients required VV-ECMO therapy at a low-volume, geographically isolated center in Iceland, a country of 400,000 inhabitants. They recovered well after the VV-ECMO treatment and returned to full-time work approximately one year later.
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