Abstract

DOBLES-RAMIREZ, Carlos  and  SALAS-SEGURA, Donato A.. Extracoporeal membrane oxigenation (ECMO). First case report in Costa Rica. Acta méd. costarric [online]. 2014, vol.56, n.4, pp.177-179. ISSN 0001-6002.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a support therapy for patients with terminal cardiac or respiratory failure, either as definitive treatment while organs heal or temporary, while the patient waits for an adequate donor. We report the first case in Costa Rica in which extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was utilized. A 13-year-old male with severe congenital aortic stenosis was treated with ECMO after a heroic but unsuccessful aortic valve replacement, as he was not able to tolerate the extracorporeal circulation. He received 17 days of ECMO support while waiting for a cardiac donor. From the hemodynamic and respiratory point of view the therapy was successful but the patient died due to associated complications before finding a heart donor. ECMO is a complex therapeutic approach, associated with multiple complications but it is a valid option in the treatment of patients with cardiac or respiratory failure and refractory with respect to other alternatives.

Keywords : Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; cardiogenic shock; aortic valve stenosis.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )