Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Use in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome after Acute Stanford Type A Aortic Dissection Repair: A Case Report

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) after acute aortic dissection repair is a serious complication and poses a major challenge. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in cardiac surgery has been established for cardiogenic shock refractory to conventional therapy. Veno-venous ECMO can be a rescue modality for ARDS post cardiac surgery. We present the case of a 73-year-old woman who was referred to our hospital with the diagnosis of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection to receive surgical treatment. She was subjected to successful aortic repair and evolved with severe ARDS, requiring VV-ECMO, which was weaned after 11 days. VV-ECMO can be considered as a treatment option for severe acute lung injury after surgery for aortic dissection.