Extracorporeal membrane oxygenator as a bridge to definitive treatment
in patients with persistent infective endocarditis
Abstract
Considering the worsening opioid epidemic, complicated infective
endocarditis (IE) secondary to intravenous drug use (IVDU) that fails
medical management is increasingly common. We present a 31-year-old
patient post tricuspid valve replacement who relapsed with recurrent IE
and secondary complications of severe tricuspid stenosis and
regurgitation, ventricular septal defect (VSD), pulmonary emboli,
right-sided heart failure with severe hepatic congestion, and
cardiogenic shock. Despite maximal medical management, the patient
remained in septic and cardiogenic shock with a potential disposition to
hospice care. Upon consulting cardiothoracic surgery, she underwent a
first-stage valvectomy with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
as a bridge to definitive treatment. After clearance of infection, she
underwent a second-stage valve replacement, VSD repair, and final ECMO
decannulation. Our case alludes to ECMO as a potential bridge for
patients with complicated infective endocarditis who fail medical
management and are high-risk candidates for immediate definitive
surgical management.