BACKGROUND: Bronchial Dieulafoy disease (BDD), a rarely reported disease, comes from dilated or abnormal arteries under the bronchial mucosa. Patients with BDD are generally asymptomatic so this disease is frequently misdiagnosed. However, the submucosal arteries may dilate and rupture for various reasons, leading to recurrent respiratory tract bleeding and potentially life-threatening conditions. With the change of reversible factors such as intravascular pressure, the arteries may return to normal, allowing patients to recover to an asymptomatic state. This phenomenon has not been mentioned and concerned in previous studies, but it may have important implications for our correct understanding of this disease.
METHODS: A 44-year-old female was admitted to intensive care unit with recurrent malignant arrhythmias. With the assistance of VA-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), both her vital signs and internal environment were all gradually stabilized. However, she had been experiencing recurrent respiratory tract bleeding. While removing the bloody secretion with a fiber bronchoscopy, a congested protruding granule on the wall of the patient\'s left principal bronchus was found.
METHODS: The patient was diagnosed with BDD and the granule was thought to be an abnormal artery of BDD.
METHODS: For the patient\'s condition, we did not implement any targeted interventions with the abnormal artery.
RESULTS: After the weaning of VA-ECMO, the patient\'s granule could not be found and the bleeding had also disappeared. She gradually weaned off the mechanical ventilation and was transferred to the Department of Cardiology. Then the patient was discharged after her condition stabilized. In more than half a year, the patient is in a normal physical condition.
CONCLUSIONS: The appearance and disappearance of abnormal artery is an interesting phenomena of BDD. The change of intravascular pressure due to various causes such as VA-ECMO may be the primary factor of it.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a critical care intervention that acts as a temporary substitute for the heart and lungs, facilitating adequate tissue perfusion and gas exchange. The 2 primary configurations, veno-arterial and veno-venous ECMO, are tailored to support either the heart and lungs or the lungs alone, respectively.
METHODS: The case report details patients with tumor-induced airway stenosis who encountered limitations with standard treatments, which were either insufficient or carried the risk of severe complications such as hypoxia and asphyxia.
METHODS: Patients were diagnosed with severe airway stenosis caused by goiter, a condition that required innovative treatment approaches to prevent complications during the management process.
METHODS: Veno-venous ECMO was implemented as a bridging therapy to provide vital respiratory support during the tumor resection procedure. This intervention was crucial in reducing the risks associated with airway edema or tumor rupture.
RESULTS: With the use of veno-venous ECMO, the patients successfully underwent tumor resection. They were subsequently weaned off the ECMO support, and after a course of treatment, they were discharged in good condition.
CONCLUSIONS: The case demonstrates the efficacy of veno-venous ECMO as a bridging therapy for managing severe airway stenosis caused by goiter. Its use facilitated the successful resection of tumors and led to positive patient outcomes, highlighting its potential as a valuable treatment option in similar scenarios.

Background: Little is known about extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)-related spinal cord infarction (SCI), and reports regarding this rare and catastrophic complication are rare. Here, we report two cases of ECMO-related SCI that occurred between April and December 2023. Data were collected from patients\' medical records, with SCI as the endpoint. We reviewed previously published reports by searching PubMed and summarizing the findings. Case summary: One female patient presenting with multiple traumas required oxygenation support through veno-venous ECMO (VV ECMO) due to pulmonary hemorrhage, while one male patient required circulatory support via veno-arterial ECMO (VA ECMO) concurrently with an intra-aortic balloon pump due to cardiac arrest. Neither patient had preexisting neurological deficits; however, upon weaning from ECMO, they presented with severe neurological deficits of uncertain etiology, subsequently confirmed as SCI using magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusion: ECMO-related SCI remains elusive and intricate, and this is the first report of adult VV ECMO-related SCI.

Pheochromocytoma crisis is rare but potentially fatal if not recognized early and properly managed. Here, a woman in her 20s with a paraganglioma-induced pheochromocytoma crisis, who was successfully treated by veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and interval tumor resection, is described. In July 2022, the patient was brought to hospital with a complaint of sudden-onset of palpitations with vomiting. The patient developed cardiorespiratory failure with hypoxia. Computed tomography scan showed pulmonary oedema and a mass anterior to the inferior vena cava. She was transferred to the intensive care unit and treated with VA-ECMO. The patient\'s ECMO was withdrawn after 6 days without any complications. After hemodynamic stabilization, the patient underwent tumor resection 4 months later. The postoperative course was uneventful and she was discharged on postoperative day 7. Histopathological analysis confirmed a paraganglioma. VA-ECMO may play a significant role in saving lives and providing time for accurate diagnosis and specific treatment of a patient with pheochromocytoma crisis. Appropriate individual management can help avoid the occurrence of ECMO complications.

Advanced sarcoma treatment in complex anatomical regions such as the pelvis poses significant surgical challenges. This report details a case involving a 35-year-old man with recurrent osteosarcoma of the left hemipelvis, who underwent a 16 h surgery for hemipelvectomy and reconstruction using a free tibia and fibula fillet leg flap. The procedure, necessitated by an infected, exposed iliac prosthesis, utilized extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for 8 h to maintain flap viability. The flap, incorporating tibia, fibula, and associated musculature was successfully inset and anastomosed to the left common iliac artery and vein, with additional venous anastomosis to the right iliac vein. Despite postoperative challenges such as venous stasis and intestinal ischemia, necessitating further surgical interventions, the patient achieved mobility with a walker at 3 months post-surgery, with stable conditions observed during a 2 years follow-up. ECMO enabled successful preservation and integration of the free fillet leg flap, demonstrating its potential in complex reconstructive surgeries. Specifically, ECMO may extend free flap viability in complex cases, offering new possibilities for challenging oncological and reconstructive surgeries.

Blastomycosis can result in lung injury with high mortality rates. The literature on veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) used as a rescue therapy is limited to case reports and small case series collected over extended time periods. This report describes the clinical course and post-hospitalization outcomes among patients with blastomycosis-induced respiratory failure requiring VV-ECMO in the most recent time frame. The data were collected retrospectively from the health records of eight patients with blastomycosis-induced respiratory failure admitted to a tertiary care center between 2019 and 2023. The mean time from the start of mechanical ventilation to ECMO initiation was 57 h. All patients survived to ECMO decannulation, and seven of them survived to hospital discharge. All six patients whose post-discharge follow-up information was available were weaned from mechanical ventilation and lived at home while two required supplemental oxygen. This includes a case where the provision of adequate ECMO support was challenging due to the patient\'s morbid obesity. The most common residual imaging abnormalities included pulmonary infiltrates and pneumatoceles. The study demonstrates the feasibility of VV-ECMO as a rescue therapy in patients with blastomycosis-related refractory respiratory failure. Rapid initiation of ECMO support in eligible patients may have contributed to the good outcomes.

Traumatic main bronchus rupture is a relatively rare injury in thoracic trauma, which is extremely critical, with a mortality rate as high as 70% - 80%. The complete rupture and displacement of the traumatic cervical trachea can lead to asphyxia, hypoxia, and cardiac arrest, even death of the patient in a short time. We performed emergency surgery with the support of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for a case of traumatic cervical tracheal trunk complete rupture and displacement combined with cardiac arrest and achieved a successful rescue. We summarized our experience and found that timely surgical reconstruction of the airway is the key to increasing the traumatic main bronchus rupture survival of patients.

This case report details the clinical course of a 16-year-old female student with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection complicated by autoimmune encephalitis, spanning from 6 February 2022, to 12 April 2022, with a one-year follow-up. The patient presented with a two-week history of cough and fever, followed by altered consciousness and neuropsychiatric symptoms, including hyperactivity and incoherent speech. Despite normal brain MRI findings, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis confirmed Mycoplasma pneumoniae with titers of, and positive IgLON5 antibodies. Initial treatment included azithromycin, ceftriaxone, and acyclovir, followed by mechanical ventilation and ECMO due to respiratory failure. The antibiotic regimen was switched to intravenous omadacycline based on genetic testing results. Autoimmune encephalitis was managed with intravenous methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and plasma exchange. The patient\'s condition improved, and she was discharged on 12 March 2022, with normal cognitive and behavioral functions. However, she was readmitted one month later due to cognitive decline and sleep disturbances, with a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 20/30 and a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 3. At the one-year follow-up, her MMSE score had improved to 28/30, and her mRS score was 1. This case underscores the importance of comprehensive diagnostic approaches and personalized treatment strategies in managing complex cases of mycoplasma-related infections and associated autoimmune conditions.

UNASSIGNED: Atomoxetine, a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, may lead to severe complications, notably cardiac issues, upon overdose. We present a unique case of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) rescue for atomoxetine-induced cardiogenic shock.
UNASSIGNED: We report a 30-year-old man who, after ingesting a significant overdose of atomoxetine, experienced seizures and severe cardiogenic shock, necessitating VA-ECMO for resuscitation. While prior reports have noted cardiovascular complications like QTc prolongation and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy following atomoxetine overdose, this case is notable for its life-threatening circulatory failure, which required ECMO intervention. Swift recognition coupled with VA-ECMO initiation, endoscopic medication removal, intravenous lipid emulsion, and activated charcoal may have played a pivotal role in stabilizing the patient and facilitating recovery.
UNASSIGNED: Healthcare practitioners should recognize the severe cardiac complications of atomoxetine overdose. Careful monitoring with ECG and echocardiography, along with providing intensive care, is crucial in managing critical cases.

UNASSIGNED: We present the fifth case of candida dubliniensis meningitis in a young immunocompetent host and suggest extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a potential risk factor for colonization.
UNASSIGNED: A 22-year-old immunocompetent female presented with a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Two years prior, she received ECMO for Covid-19 pneumonia complicated by viral myocarditis & Takutsobo cardiomyopathy. Following discharge, she reported headaches of increasing intensity, all refractory to treatments. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was inconclusive. Two weeks prior to her presentation, she was admitted for worsening headaches with cranial nerve VI palsy. Lumbar puncture (LP) revealed white blood cell count (WBC) of 166 cells/μL with neutrophilic predominance and her symptoms progressed, despite 5 days of treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics. All cultures returned negative.
UNASSIGNED: At her current presentation, repeat LP revealed 835 WBC/mm3, 225 mg/dL protein, and 4 mg/100 mL glucose. Brain MRI revealed nodular enhancement in the brainstem and communicating hydrocephalus. MRI of the lumbar spine revealed meningeal enhancement. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures came back positive for C.dubliniensis. Treatment began with Amphotericin B and Flucytosine.
UNASSIGNED: When clinical suspicion for fungal meningitis is high, repeate LP and CSF analysis is indicated to establish a definitive diagnosis and begin treatment. Additional studies are needed to confirm risk factors, like ECMO, for the colonization of C.dubliniensis, which likely predisposes individuals to invasive candidiasis.