A Case of a Highly Obese Covid-19 Patient with Severe Hypoxemia and Subcutaneous Mediastinal Emphysema Who Was Rescued by Early Introduction of ECMO

• Published in: Kobe journal of the medical sciences Vol. 69; no. 2; pp. E49 - E51
• Main Authors: Takahashi, Shuhei, Obata, Norihiko, Makino, Shohei, Furushima, Nana, Nishimura, Taichi, Mizobuchi, Satoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kobe University School Of Medicine 2023
• ISSN: 1883-0498; 0023-2513; 1883-0498

We conducted the treatment of a highly obese patient with severe Covid-19 pneumonia who had a history of asthma. When she arrived at the hospital, she was already intubated and had mediastinal emphysema and severe hypoxemia. Because the patient's condition did not improve with mechanical ventilation, we introduced extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) immediately after admission. The patient improved with early induction of ECMO and prone positioning. In the management of patients with severe Covid-19 pneumonia, early introduction of ECMO should be considered if oxygenation does not improve with mechanical ventilation, and prone positioning can also be effective.We conducted the treatment of a highly obese patient with severe Covid-19 pneumonia who had a history of asthma. When she arrived at the hospital, she was already intubated and had mediastinal emphysema and severe hypoxemia. Because the patient's condition did not improve with mechanical ventilation, we introduced extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) immediately after admission. The patient improved with early induction of ECMO and prone positioning. In the management of patients with severe Covid-19 pneumonia, early introduction of ECMO should be considered if oxygenation does not improve with mechanical ventilation, and prone positioning can also be effective.