Right Ventricular Failure Manifesting in Corona Virus Disease 2019 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Call to Transition from Venovenous Extracorporeal Membranous Oxygenation to Right Ventricular Assist Device Extracorporeal Membranous Oxygenation

Often labeled the forgotten ventricle, the right ventricle's (RV) importance has been magnified over the last 2 years as providers witnessed how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection has a predilection for exacerbating RV failure. Venovenous extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (VV-ECMO) has become a mainstay treatment modality for a select patient population suffering from severe COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome. Concomitant early implementation of a right ventricular assist device with ECMO (RVAD-ECMO) may confer benefit in patient outcomes. The underlying mechanism of RV failure in COVID-19 has a multifactorial etiopathogenesis; nonetheless, clinical evaluation of a patient necessitating RV support remains unchanged. Herein, the authors report the case of a critically ill patient who was transitioned from a conventional VV-ECMO Medtronic Crescent cannula to RVAD-ECMO, with the insertion of the LivaNova ProtekDuo dual-lumen RVAD cannula. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

The importance of the right ventricle (RV) has been magnified due to the exacerbation of RV failure caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Venovenous extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (VV-ECMO) has become a main treatment for severe COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome, and early implementation of a right ventricular assist device may improve patient outcomes.