A Case of Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Treated with Extracorporeal Life Support.

Kim, Young Mook; Lee, Jue Yong; Lee, Myung Goo; Lee, Chang Youl; Kim, Go Woon; Sohn, Kyoung Min; Yang, Ha Na; Kim, Dae Yong; Choi, Hyun Hee; Kim, Hyoung Soo

doi:2007.63.6.526

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 63(6); 2007 > Article

Clinical Trial

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2007;63(6):526-530.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2007.63.6.526 Published online December 1, 2007.

A Case of Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Treated with Extracorporeal Life Support.

Young Mook Kim, Jue Yong Lee, Myung Goo Lee, Chang Youl Lee, Go Woon Kim, Kyoung Min Sohn, Ha Na Yang, Dae Yong Kim, Hyun Hee Choi, Hyoung Soo Kim

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea. mglee@hallym.or.kr
²Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hallym University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.

Abstract

The incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been estimated worldwide to range from 1.7 to 75 cases per 100,000. There are many treatments for ARDS, but only the low tidal volume strategy is based on strong clinical evidence from randomized clinical trials. The efficacy of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in adults remains controversial. Ongoing clinical trials and research have shown a benefit for its use to salvage severe ARDS patients that are in failure with conventional treatment. We encountered a 41-year-old woman who developed ARDS induced by pneumococcal pneumonia. Despite conventional mechanical ventilation in the emergency room, severe hypoxia remained. We treated the patient immediately with ECLS. The patient has almost fully recovered, and was discharged from a 177-day stay at our hospital.

Key Words: Acute respiratory distress syndrome, Extracorporeal life support