Synergy between stents and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in multitrauma patients with inferior vena cava injury

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2013 Dec;44(6):1140-2. doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezt203. Epub 2013 Apr 15.

Abstract

Despite the lack of evidence in the literature, we report the case of a 25-year-old man involved in a road traffic accident, who had an inferior vena cava (IVC) injury and severe lung contusion with parenchymal bleeding requiring an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). An emergency procedure to implant a stent graft was successful in repairing the IVC injury. Moreover, we think that ECMO, in addition to providing oxygenation, reduced bleeding by creating a negative pressure along the injured IVC. The patient was decannulated on the eighth day and discharged 31 days after the accident.

Keywords: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; Bleeding; Endovascular procedures/stents; Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Inferior vena cava injury.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic
  • Adult
  • Endovascular Procedures / instrumentation
  • Endovascular Procedures / methods*
  • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Radiography
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / surgery
  • Stents*
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / diagnostic imaging
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / injuries*
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / surgery*