Clinical assessment can be lifesaving: Salvage of catastrophic cerebral ischemia by conversion to central extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Abstract

Peripheral veno-artertial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is commonly used in the paediatric population for intractable respiratory and cardiac failure. One of the devastating complications of VA-ECMO is severe brain damage due to ischemia or haemorrhage. We describe a case of peripheral cervical VA-ECMO complicated by evolving right cerebral ischemia which was rescued with rapid conversion from peripheral to central VA-ECMO support. Notably, the patient had a complete circle of Willis. Following conversion, we observed complete resolution of neurological symptoms with full functional recovery.