Regional anesthesia for compartment syndrome as a complication of ECMO. Case report

We present the case of a patient intervened for mechanical mitral replacement, tricuspid annuloplasty, and correction of a total anomalous pulmonary venous return, which required Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in the immediate postoperative period because of refractory cardiogenic shock. After withdrawal of the arterial cannula, the patient developed compartment syndrome of the right lower limb, requiring urgent intervention. Also, the patient went into respiratory failure, requiring support with high flow oxygen cannula. Given the patient’s condition, general anesthesia was discarded. An ultrasound-guided popliteal block and sedation with dexmedetomidine and ketamine was performed instead, maintaining the high flow nasal cannula. Regional anesthesia along with dexmedetomidine and ketamine could be an alternative for a surgical procedure in patients with high risk of cardiovascular and respiratory complications.