Infant on venous-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after cardiac surgery with new bilateral pleural effusions

Chest
US of hemothorax as a complication of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
CXR AP (above) shows correct position of the ECMO venous-venous catheter tip near the junction of the right atrium and the inferior vena cava. There are bilateral pleural effusions most prominently seen in the apex of the lungs. Transverse US of the right hemithorax (below left) shows echogenic pleural fluid lateral to the atelectatic right lower lobe. Sagittal US of the left hemithorax (below right) shows echogenic pleural fluid inferior to the atelectatic left lower lobe and superior to the spleen.

The diagnosis was correct position of the venous-venous ECMO catheter and bilateral hemothorax as a complication of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Published