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Case Report
ECMO complications in COVID-19: A new insight of a controversial disease
1 PhD, Intensive Care Unit, Walter Cantídio Federal Hospital, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
2 MD, Intensive Care Unit, Hospital São Camilo Cura D'ars, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
3 M.Sc., Intensive Care Unit, Hospital São Camilo Cura D'ars, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
Address correspondence to:
Diego Bastos Porto
757, Pinto Madeira St. Fortaleza, Ceará,
Brazil
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Article ID: 101250Z01BB2021
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How to cite this article
Beltrão BA, Teixeira RC, Porto DB. ECMO complications in COVID-19: A new insight of a controversial disease. Int J Case Rep Images 2021;12:101250Z01BB2021.ABSTRACT
Introduction: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a support therapy that can be used in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and refractory hypoxemia, despite optimal management. However, ECMO may be responsible for a synergic effect in the proposed mechanism of viral associated hyperinflammation.
Case Report: We report a rare case of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in a 58-year-old obese man, who initially responded well to ECMO support and ICU care. He later progressed to a clinical scenario that met criteria for the diagnosis of HLH. Despite our best efforts, the patient had a fatal outcome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such association.
Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of the appropriate timing in the diagnosis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection and complications, mainly those that are rare and poorly understood, as HLH in patients with ECMO support. The outcomes may be improved with earlier recognition of these grim scenarios.
Keywords: Case report, COVID-19, Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Author Contributions
Beatriz Amorim Beltrão - Acquisition of data, Analysis of data, Interpretation of data, Drafting the article, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published
Rafael Cabral Teixeira - Interpretation of data, Drafting the article, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published
Diego Bastos Porto - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Acquisition of data, Analysis of data, Interpretation of data, Drafting the article, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published
Guaranter of SubmissionThe corresponding author is the guarantor of submission.
Source of SupportNone
Consent StatementWritten informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this article.
Data AvailabilityAll relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.
Conflict of InterestAuthors declare no conflict of interest.
Copyright© 2021 Beatriz Amorim Beltrão et al. This article is distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium provided the original author(s) and original publisher are properly credited. Please see the copyright policy on the journal website for more information.
