Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in a Patient With Acute Right Heart Failure

ARDS patients may require rescue extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) when protective ventilation is not able to maintain adequate oxygenation and/or pH; in this setting, a veno-venous approach is normally chosen.

But what to do when lung failure is associated to right heart failure? Is a veno-arterial approach always necessary or may a veno-venous ECMO correct the factors inducing acute right heart failure?

Have a look to this case report!