Jornal de relatos de casos clínicos

Successful Use of Extracorporeal Life Support in Obesity with COVID-19

Abstract

Heidi Dalton, Osborn E, Desai M, Lantry J, King C, Moran P, Ryan L, Speir A

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic can lead to severe respiratory failure and hypoxia. Extracorporeal life support or ECMO, has been successful in treating patients with respiratory disease from a variety of causes but its’ use in COVID-19 is controversial. While it may be helpful, concern over heavy resource use when personnel and equipment may be limited raises caution. Concurrent obesity and secondary organ failure have also been cited as poor prognostic indicators.

Case summary: We present our first COVID-19 patient with both obesity and acute kidney injury who received ECMO support at a large, experienced ECMO center and survived to discharge.

Conclusion: ECMO can provide life-saving support for patients with severe respiratory failure, concurrent obesity and renal failure in selected patients.