Successful Use of ECMO As a Bridge to Surgical Embolectomy in Life-Threatening Pulmonary Embolism

Massive pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening condition that carries a high mortality rate. Treatment relies on thrombolytic therapy and/or emergency surgical embolectomy. Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) may be considered in massive pulmonary embolism with hemodynamic compromise as a bridge to specific reperfusion therapy. We here describe the successful use of ECMO as a bridge to surgical embolectomy in a 36-year-old female patient admitted for acute pulmonary embolism in which intravenous thrombolysis was firmly contraindicated. Therapeutic strategies are discussed in the setting of contraindicated thrombolytic therapy. Peripheral ECMO is a valuable therapeutic option in pulmonary embolism with hemodynamic compromise allowing a serene surgical management when medical treatment is contraindicated.