Veno-venous extracorporal membrane oxygenation in a deeply hypoxemic infant with persistent air leakages: The first successful pediatric veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation case report in Turkey.

In severe respiratory failure, extracorporal membrane oxygenation support is life-saving, but it has been started to be used in pediatric intensive care units in our country very recently. Here, we present a five-month old girl who developed acute respiratory distress and air leakages following removal of a foreign body obstructing the airway. Mechanical ventilation only increased the air leaks and - despite drainage-resulted in hypoxemia, acidosis and finally cardiopulmonary arrest. Initiation of veno-venous (VV) ECMO improved oxygenation as well as hemodynamics. The patient was weaned off extracorporal membrane oxygenation support on the 7th day with improvement in the lung parenchyma and ceasing of the air leakages; she was discharged on the 27(th) day of her hospitalization without any neurologicalsequela. As far as we know, this patient is the first pediatric patient who was discharged with success after application of venovenous-extracorporal membrane oxygenation with a respiratory indication in a pediatric intensive care unit in our country. We think that similar patients who need extracorporal membrane oxygenation can be cured with close collaboration of specialists of cardiovascular surgery and pediatric intensive care, dedicated nurses and perfusionist support when necessary.