Case Report: Possible causes and management decision-making for near-180° fold-back kinking of a VA-ECMO venous...

Intravascular bending, kinking, or fold-back deformation of an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) venous drainage cannula is a rare cannula-related event. Reports of such events are limited, and no mature or standardized management strategy has been established. We report a case of near-180° fold-back kinking of a venous drainage cannula in the inferior vena cava during venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support, aiming to highlight the possibility of cannula deformation during cannulation and to provide a reference for individualized management of similar events.

A 72-year-old woman with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction complicated by refractory cardiogenic shock underwent right femoral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support. After cannulation, bedside ultrasonography and radiography revealed near-180° fold-back kinking of the venous drainage cannula in the inferior vena cava. Because ECMO function remained stable and there was no evidence of vascular injury, bleeding, or thrombotic complications, the clinical team chose conservative observation under close monitoring. Seven days later, the patient was successfully weaned from VA-ECMO. Decannulation was uneventful, and no definite related adverse events were observed before discharge.

During the placement of large-bore ECMO cannulas, premature withdrawal of the guidewire and obturator should be carefully avoided to prevent inadequate cannula support and subsequent deviation or fold-back kinking. For patients with fold-back kinking but stable cannula function and no evidence of vascular injury, bleeding, or thrombosis, conservative observation under close monitoring may be an individualized management option.