Somatic Support with Veno-venous ECMO in a Pregnant Woman with Brain Death: A Case Report. Issue 1 (11th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Salazar, Leonardo; Arora, Lovkesh; Botia, Maria; Niño, Maria Azucena; Figueredo, Antonio; Alvarado, Jorge; Serrano, Norma; Riaño, Carlos; Pizarro, Camilo
• Is Part Of: ASAIO journal. Volume 68:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: e16
• Page End: e18
• Publication Date: 2021-03-11
• Subjects: somatic support -- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in pregnancy -- brain death in pregnancy -- ethical challenges with somatic support -- panhypopituitarism -- viable gestational age; Artificial organs -- Periodicals; 617
• DOI: 10.1097/MAT.0000000000001411
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1058-2916

Abstract

Abstract : Supporting homeostasis in a pregnant woman with brain death to achieve fetal viability is called somatic support. We present a case of young pregnant woman at 21 weeks' gestation who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to influenza A H2N3 infection requiring veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) support for refractory hypoxemia. The clinical course was complicated by intracranial hemorrhage and subsequent brain death. After multidisciplinary team discussion with her family, consensus was reached to continue somatic support with VV ECMO to enable fetal development to attain extrauterine viability. The challenging clinical, ethical, and legal concerns are discussed.