ECMO for a Cardiac Arrest and Prolonged CPR in the Cath-Lab: Dose it worth? Case Report and Review of Literature-Juniper Publishers
JUNIPER PUBLISHERS-OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY & CARDIOVASCULAR THERAPY Abstract Introduction: Nowadays the vast expansion to ECMO indications raises ethical questions such as whose patient should be treated with ECMO and when the ECMO support should be discontinued? Case presentation: 57yr old gentleman presented as ACS and 1yr PCI was planned. CAG revealed total occlusion of LAD; LCX: mild lesions, RCA: totally occluded. Attempt to open the RCA was failed, LAD was stented but after that he got CP arrest. CPR was initiated and continued for 1.5h, then he revived, but echocardiography showed EF 10%. VA-ECMO was inserted then shifted to CCU and started to be awake. CXR showed massive left pleural effusion so exploratory thoracotomy was done which revealed big blood collection from intercostal artery and fracture multiple ribs. In 3rd day he was taken to the CathLab electively for another trial to open the RCA which was successfully done. ECMO was wea...