Nursing Management of a Patient With Fulminant Myocarditis and Electrical Storm Receiving ECMO: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION

Fulminant myocarditis is a devastating disease with significant mortality and complications. The care of patients with fulminant myocarditis is rarely reported.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 17-year-old female patient was admitted to the emergency department with dizziness, amaurosis fugax, and chest tightness. Initial assessment revealed elevated levels of troponin T (4.753 ng/mL), troponin I (49.540 ng/mL), creatine kinase (1306 U/L), creatine kinase-MB isoenzymes (75.71 ng/mL), lactate dehydrogenase (509 U/L), and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (6345 pg/mL). The patient had recurrent ventricular tachycardia and failed to maintain a sinus rhythm after multiple electrical cardioversions.

DIAGNOSIS: Echocardiography revealed a left ventricular ejection fraction of 34%. Magnetic resonance imaging results confirmed the diagnosis of myocarditis.

INTERVENTIONS: The patient received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for 6 days, intra-aortic balloon pump support for 7 days, and mechanical ventilation for 5 days. Norepinephrine and dopamine were used to keep circulation stable, lidocaine and amiodarone were used to control heart rate, and glucocorticoids and immunoglobulins were used to modulate immunity.

OUTCOMES: The patient was discharged after 23 days. A month after discharge, echocardiography showed that the ejection fraction was 60%. The patient reported complete resolution of signs and symptoms of fulminant myocarditis at follow-up assessment.

CONCLUSION

This case report presents the activities of bedside nurses in caring for a patient with fulminant myocarditis and broadens the literature describing nursing interventions for patients with fulminant myocarditis.