Successful Management of Cardiac Arrest Due to Pulmonary Embolus Using Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation and Ultrasound-Accelerated Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 101; no. 4; pp. e107 - e109
• Main Authors: Sharma, Vikas, MD, Goldberg, Howard D., MD, Zubkus, Dmitriy, MD, Shears, Larry L., MD, Kaczorowski, David J., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.04.2016
• Subjects: Angiography; Anticoagulants - administration & dosage; Cardiothoracic Surgery; Catheterization, Peripheral - methods; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation - methods; Femoral Artery; Femoral Vein; Follow-Up Studies; Heart Arrest - diagnostic imaging; Heart Arrest - etiology; Heart Arrest - therapy; Heparin - administration & dosage; Humans; Infusions, Intra-Arterial; Male; Middle Aged; Pulmonary Embolism - complications; Pulmonary Embolism - diagnosis; Pulmonary Embolism - physiopathology; Surgery; Thrombolytic Therapy - methods; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Ultrasonography; Ventricular Function, Right - physiology
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2015.10.023

Here we present the case of a patient that suffered a cardiac arrest due to pulmonary embolus. The patient was resuscitated using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and treated with ultrasound-accelerated catheter-directed thrombolysis during support on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, with an excellent outcome. This case demonstrates that the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and ultrasound-accelerated catheter-directed thrombolysis can be highly effective for managing select patients with pulmonary embolus and cardiac arrest.