Successful weaning from extracorporal circulation using a pumpless extracorporal lung assist device in a patient with intraoperative hypercapnic lung failure during aortic valve replacement.

We present a case of a 59-year-old female suffering from massive pulmonary edema with consecutive hypercapnic lung failure immediately following elective aortic valve replacement. Due to severe restrictive ventilation disorder, mechanical ventilation was inadequate. A pumpless lung assist (PECLA, iLA, Novalung®, Talheim, Germany)--a device for extracorporeal carbon dioxide elimination--was used for successful weaning from extracorporeal circulation (ECC). Within 24 hours respiratory function had normalized and the patient could be extubated. The further clinical course and follow-up at 3 months remained uneventful. This report describes the first intraoperative use of the PECLA device in a cardiac surgery patient to promote weaning from ECC. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.