Zero balance ultrafiltration to correct metabolic alkalosis occurring during veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Abstract

We describe a case report of metabolic alkalosis that occurred during veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) that was corrected during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) using zero balance ultrafiltration with normal saline (NS) 0.9%. A 67-year-old male received a heart transplant 6days after being placed on VA ECMO. During VA ECMO the patient developed metabolic alkalosis. During CPB, zero balance ultrafiltration with NS 0.9% was used to correct metabolic alkalosis. Metabolic alkalosis during CPB is rare. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of the use of zero balance ultrafiltration to effectively correct metabolic alkalosis. Metabolic alkalosis during CPB may be corrected using zero balance ultrafiltration with NS 0.9%.