Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for the management of respiratory failure caused by diffuse alveolar hemorrhage

Abstract

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was developed as a supportive therapy to treat severe respira tory failure. When conventional mechanical ventilation has failed or when there is not enough time to treat the patho logy, ECMO has the potential to sustain life. In this report, successful use of ECMO to support an adult patient with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated systemic vasculitides complicated by severe respiratory failure caused by diffuse alveolar hemorrhage will be discussed.