Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for the treatment of adult sickle cell acute chest syndrome. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Parhar, Ken; Parizkova, Barbora; Jones, Nicola; Valchanov, Kamen; Fowles, Jo-Anne; Besser, Martin; Telfer, Paul; Kaya, Banu; Vuylsteke, Alain; Rubino, Antonio
• Is Part Of: Perfusion. Volume 31:Number 3(2016)
• Page Start: 262
• Page End: 265
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: sickle cell disease -- acute chest syndrome -- chest crisis -- adult -- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Perfusion (Physiology) -- Periodicals; Blood -- Circulation, Artificial -- Periodicals; Heart -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Extracorporeal Circulation -- Periodicals; Perfusion -- Periodicals; Circulation extracorporelle -- Périodiques; Perfusion -- Périodiques; 617.41
• DOI: 10.1177/0267659115593172
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0267-6591

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary haemoglobinopathy that results in polymerization of haemoglobin molecules and subsequent vaso-occlusion. A common cause of death in adults is acute chest syndrome (AChS) with resulting hypoxemic respiratory failure. Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) has been used successfully in acutely reversible respiratory failure when conventional mechanical ventilation has been unable to adequately oxygenate and ventilate in a lung-protective fashion. We present an adult SCD patient with severe respiratory failure due to AChS, successfully treated with VV-ECMO. We also discuss some of the technical challenges and considerations when using ECMO in the SCD patient.