NGUYEN TV, CHECINSKI A, ROLLIN N, LEFORT H, TAZAROURTE K. Successful extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use in acute respiratory distress syndrome after freshwater drowning. Med Emergency, MJEM 2018; 26:29-31.
DOI 10.26738/MJEM.2017/mjem26.2018/HL.CRE.150517
 Key words: acute respiratory distress syndrome, drowning, ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, mobile unit of cardiac assistance, out of hospitalÂ- Authors’ affiliation
- Article history / info
- Conflict of interest statement
Correspondent author: Hugues LEFORT, MD
Senior practitioner in emergency medicine of the French Military Health Service
Head, Emergency Department, Hôpital d’instruction des armées Legouest
27 avenue de Plantières, BP90 001 – 57 077 Metz Cedex 03, France
hdlefort@gmail.com
Nguyen TV, MD1, Checinski A, MD, MSc1, Rollin N, MD2, Lefort H, MD3, Tazarourte K, MD, PhD4
1. Pôle Urgence-Réanimation Polyvalente-SAMU 77, Hôpital Marc Jacquet, 77000 Melun, France
2. Pôle Anesthésie-réanimation-USC, Hôpital Jean-Verdier, 93140 Bondy, France
3. Structures des urgences, Hôpital d’instruction des armées Legouest, 57000 Metz, France
4. Pôle Urgence-Réanimation médicale-Anesthésie-Réanimation-SAMU 69, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, 69000 Lyon, France
Category: Case report
Received: Feb. 1, 2017
Revised: Mar. 1, 2017
Accepted: May 15, 2017
ABSTRACT
Drowning incidents involve two million people each year, mostly children and young adults, and lead to 400,000 deaths worldwide. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the leading cause of death in the patients that are successfully rescued. Whereas the literature on the use of cardiac bypass for rewarming hypothermic patients in cardiac arrest (CA) after drowning is abundant, evidence on the use of extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for the treatment of ARDS secondary to water aspiration is scarce. We report the case of a patient who was rescued in CA after a drowning attempt and presented with a refractory ARDS after return of spontaneous circulation, successfully treated with ECMO.