Abstract

Despite the advanced technologies of intensive care, massive hemoptysis can still cause death in a small subset of patients. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is expected to provide adequate gas exchange, to reduce ventilator-induced lung injuries, and to eventually improve outcomes in these patients. Also, the instability of vital signs due to hemoptysis makes it impossible to perform immediate interventional procedures such as embolization and resectional surgery. In these cases, ECMO may be instituted as a bridge therapy. Herein, we describe the detailed course of our case, with the hopes of helping physicians to decide when to initiate ECMO in patients with massive hemoptysis.

• Keywords: anoxia;extracorporeal membrane oxygenation;hemoptysis;