Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for pulmonary haemorrhage

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) technology has relative contraindications in haemorrhagic disease but remains an effective therapeutic option for the treatment of pulmonary haemorrhage associated with respiratory failure. We report a critically ill case of a child with pulmonary haemorrhage and respiratory failure due to unintentional injury that was successfully treated with ECMO running at a low dose of heparin. An anticoagulation strategy with appropriate doses of heparin may improve the success of ECMO techniques in the treatment of severe pulmonary haemorrhage.