Hemólisis aguda severa secundaria a cuerpo extraño en la membrana de oxigenación extracorpórea: reporte de caso

Abstract

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients with respiratory failure has demonstrated improvement in clinical outcomes. Despite technological advances, complications related to the devices occur, including hemolysis secondary to exaggerated shear forces generated by blood flows through the circuit. The main causes are associated with thrombosis of the centrifuge cone or inappropriately high RPM (revolutions per minute). However, the oxygenation membrane must also be considered as an etiological agent. We describe a case of a young patient with severe and refractory ARDS due to SARS-CoV-2 in need of ECMO support, who developed an early clinical picture of severe acute hemolysis due to membrane dysfunction. The hemolysis resolved with its change with subsequent favorable evolution of the patient.