Left tilt position for easy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannula insertion in late pregnancy patients

Abstract

The aim was to describe how to avoid technical difficulties during venous femoral cannula insertion for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in a woman in late pregnancy.A 28-year old pregnant woman presented at 32 weeks of gestation after developing an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) of an unknown origin that required venovenous ECMO insertion via the femoral vein. A cannula insertion by the Seldinger visual control technique was impossible in the supine position. A left lateral tilt between 15° and 30° was performed by placing a wedge-shaped cushion under the right hip permitting the cannula insertion. We proposed a systematic 15°-30° left lateral tilt position during the ECMO femoral cannula insertion in late pregnancy cases needing ECMO. This precaution should avoid an injury to the vessels due to multiple insertion attempts. © 2012 The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.