The Use Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Therapy in a Severe Blunt Chest Trauma with a Main Tracheal Injury

Abstract

Major tracheobronchial trauma by blunt chest trauma is high mortality rates worldwide. The use conventional mechanical ventilation in a tension pneumothorax patient by major tracheobronchial trauma has been ineffective with barotrauma. However, the application of Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VV-ECMO) in trauma patients has been controversial, but VV-ECMO plays a crucial role when conventional management has failed. VV-ECMO provides adequate tissue oxygenation and an opportunity for recovery. Neither ECMO-associated bleeding nor clotting of the extracorporeal circuit is an upmost for trauma patients. We report a case of previously healthy 16-year-old man with left main bronchial rupture after vehicular accident, who had progressive dyspnea and left tension pneumothorax. After the chest tube drainage, double-lumen endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation initiation, severe respiratory distress kept on deterioration. On VV-ECMO transfer to our hospital, we performed emergency thoracotomy and identified the rupture of the left main bronchus. After operation, the patient’s condition improved. VV-ECMO and mechanical ventilation were stopped on days 8 and 9, respectively. He was discharged without complications from the ICU on day 20.