VA-ECMO rescue therapy in propofol infusion syndrome after cardiac surgery.

INTRODUCTION

Propofol infusion syndrome (PRIS) is a rare entity that could lead to profound cardiogenic shock (CS). Mitochondrial toxicity and sympathetic blockade are the mechanisms leading to CS in PRIS.

CASE REPORT: We present a 22-year-old woman who developed refractory CS due to PRIS after aortic valve replacement surgery secondary to Coxiella infective endocarditis. She was rescued with VA-ECMO (veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) and was discharged 2 months later with no cardiac dysfunction.

DISCUSSION: PRIS diagnosis is difficult even though propofol is frequently used in critical care units. Abrupt refractory CS in patients with recent use of high doses of propofol (> 4 mg/Kg/h) together with rhabdomyolysis should raise the suspicion. Diagnostic confirmation is based on muscle biopsy and fat enzyme analysis.

CONCLUSION

Propofol withdrawal and support therapies-including VA-ECMO-are the treatment of choice in severe PRIS. VA-ECMO could increase survival as a bridge to recovery due to reversibility of PRIS.