Veno-venal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to support whole-lung lavage in a severe case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis

We present the case of a 71-year-old woman with severe bilateral primary alveolar proteinosis admitted for bilateral whole lung lavage (WLL) with a double-lumen endotracheal tube. She had a cardiac arrest of respiratory origin during the procedure and recovered after one minute of advanced resuscitation. A second LLP was scheduled under respiratory support with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). During this second WLL the patient was completely VV-ECMO-dependent, and the procedure was successfully completed. She was gradually weaned over the next 48 hours. The patient was finally discharged after clinical improvement and home oxygen therapy was discontinued. WLL is the treatment of choice for severe cases of alveolar proteinosis. In rare cases the intervention may be poorly tolerated due to the degree of lung involvement. This case illustrates how VV-ECMO support is an option that may benefit this subgroup of at-risk patients.