Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) is applied in circulatory failure cases such as cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, and refractory ventricular fibrillation. V-A ECMO management includes echocardiographic assessments of cardiac function and evaluations of the peripheral circulation based on venous oxygen saturation, lactate levels, regional cerebral oxygen saturation, and central venous pressure. ECMO flow rates exceeding cardiac output result in low pulse pressure, leading to low mean blood pressure. Thus, the mean blood pressure is also used to manage organ perfusion and peripheral circulation during ECMO support.Generally, urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) is a useful clinical marker in the monitoring of chronic kidney disease (CKD). 1 And it can serve clinically as a predictive marker for contrast medium-induced nephropathy and acute kidney injury. 2,3 In addition, urinary L-FABP-a biomarker of renal ischemia-has also been considered to reflect acute systemic ischemic injury and to be effective in the assessment of sepsis treatment. 4,5 However, no reports have discussed urinary L-FABP use during V-A ECMO management in severe ischemic injury after cardiac arrest cases.Herein, we discuss a case in which urinary L-FABP measurements were used during V-A ECMO management.
| CASE HISTORYHere, we describe a 46-year-old male patient who had collapsed at home in the presence of a close relative, who called for an ambulance and started resuscitation maneuvers until the arrival of the medical team. He has no medical history. The monitor waveform showed ventricular fibrillation requiring three defibrillation shocks, endo-tracheal intubation, and transport to our hospital. Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated on arrival due to the onset of refractory ventricular fibrillation. The interval between the onset of cardiac arrest and V-A ECMO cannulation was 45 min. After starting V-A ECMO, defibrillation was performed once. The monitor waveform became pulseless electrical activity (PEA).