ProtekDuo Cannulation via Right External Jugular Vein: A First in Man Method Description

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Transplantation Medicine
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Lung transplant recipients are critically ill with comorbidities, increasing post-transplant risks.
• Complications like widespread clots and vascular thrombosis necessitate innovative extracorporeal life support strategies.
• Managing end-stage lung failure often involves complex patient profiles and challenging clinical scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel cannulation technique for extracorporeal life support in a lung transplant patient with severe venous thrombosis.
• To present a first-in-human application of the ProtekDuo device in a unique clinical setting.
• To highlight an alternative approach for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) access in challenging vascular anatomies.

Main Methods:

• A patient with bilateral lung transplantation developed respiratory failure and internal jugular vein thrombosis with an inferior vena cava filter.
• Due to lack of patent vessels, cannulation for extracorporeal life support was performed using a ProtekDuo device via the right external jugular vein.
• This represents a novel, first-in-human method for achieving extracorporeal life support access in a complex thrombotic scenario.

Main Results:

• Successful cannulation and initiation of extracorporeal life support were achieved using the ProtekDuo device via the right external jugular vein.
• The ProtekDuo facilitated necessary extracorporeal support despite significant vascular challenges.
• This approach provided a viable solution for life support in a patient with limited vascular access options.

Conclusions:

• The ProtekDuo device can be effectively utilized for extracorporeal life support in complex cases of lung transplant recipients with extensive venous thrombosis.
• This case demonstrates the adaptability of extracorporeal support technologies in critical care scenarios.
• Novel cannulation strategies are crucial for managing critically ill patients with challenging vascular access.