[Diuretic resistance and mechanical ventilation in decompensated cor pulmonale: successful treatment by slow continuous ultrafiltration].

We report on a 53-year-old male patient who presented with severe dyspnea at rest and massive volume overload because of decompensated cor pulmonale. Furthermore he suffered from stage 3 chronic kidney disease. As there was diuretics resistance and carbon dioxide narcosis, he had to be intubated and ventilated. The massive volume overload could be successfully treated with slow continuous ultrafiltration (SCUF) with removal of a volume of 27.5 l within 3 days. The SCUF therapy is an effective and gentle method to treat even an excessive volume overload based on diuretics resistance.