Identification of Inadvertent Azygous Vein Cannulation Using Transthoracic Echocardiography During Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Initiation.

Creator(s)

Bethany Runkel, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Jason D. Fraser, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
John Daniel, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Karina M. Carlson, Children's Mercy Hospital

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2019

Identifier

DOI: 10.1016/j.case.2018.10.003; PMCID: PMC6479219

Abstract

It is well known that optimal cannula positioning during initiation of venoarterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is directly related to ECMO circuit function. Malpositioned cannulae can have deleterious effects on clinical outcomes, and inadvertent cannulation of the azygous vein during initiation of ECMO is a rare but potentially devastating complication that has been reported only a few times in the literature. Here we report a case of azygous vein cannulation in a neonate that was not identified on chest radiography but was recognized and corrected expeditiously with the use of transthoracic echocardiography.

Journal Title

CASE (Phila)

Volume

3

Issue

2

First Page

67

Last Page

70

Keywords

ECMO; Azygous vein; Cannulation; Transthoracic echocardiography

Comments

This article is available under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND license and permits non-commercial use of the work as published, without adaptation or alteration provided the work is fully attributed.

Publisher's Link: https://www.cvcasejournal.com/article/S2468-6441(18)30172-5/fulltext

Recommended Citation

Runkel BG, Fraser JD, Daniel JM 4th, Carlson KM. Identification of Inadvertent Azygous Vein Cannulation Using Transthoracic Echocardiography During Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Initiation. CASE (Phila). 2019;3(2):67-70. Published 2019 Feb 6. doi:10.1016/j.case.2018.10.003