A new role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the management of tuberculosis with acute respiratory distress syndrome: A case report and review of literature

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which can be at times fatal. Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) ensures adequate oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal, avoiding ventilator-induced lung injury. We present a case where a young woman with refractory respiratory failure caused by PTB, unresponsive to conventional mechanical ventilation, but was successfully managed with prolonged VV-ECMO support. The patient diagnosed with PTB was started on antitubercular treatment but went into respiratory failure and ARDS. The patient was put on mechanical ventilation, on which she was not improving. The patient was then put on ECMO. On the 9th day, lung compliance and gas exchange were good enough to resume conventional mechanical ventilation. ECMO was weaned and removed. This is one of few cases of survival of the patient with PTB with ARDS utilizing ECMO.