Left atrial veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal defect with cardiogenic shock: a case report

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) complicating acute myocardial infarction (MI) represents a life-threatening condition and has a mortality of >90% if left untreated.

A 53-year-old man with a prior medical history of diabetes and hypertension presented with cardiogenic shock secondary to VSD as a mechanical complication of non-reperfused inferior MI.

The choice of mechanical support can be difficult in this type of patient. Given the risk of an increased shunt because of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and the increase in left ventricle (LV) afterload, several measures were taken to plan the best ECMO configuration. Given the absence of any real improvement in the LV and an elevated residual ratio between pulmonary and systemic flow (Qp/Qs), the final decision was to switch to left atrial VA-ECMO (LAVA-ECMO). The use of LAVA-ECMO improved the patient’s haemodynamics and allowed his condition to stabilize; LAVA-ECMO is feasible and may be effective as a mechanical circulatory support (MCS) strategy for patients in cardiogenic shock due to VSD as a mechanical complication of acute MI.