CASE REPORT
A 53-year-old female was transferred for acute respiratory failure and
intubated upon arrival. A significant bronchopleural fistulas (BPF)
compromised mechanical ventilatory support so she was placed on VV-ECMO
(right internal jugular vein 17-Fr inflow cannula with a 23-Fr drainage
multistage right femoral venous cannula). For 6 weeks, she improved but
her extensive BPF required continued extracorporeal support. The
multidisciplinary ECMO team agreed on conversion to a single dual lumen
cannula as this will allow better mobility and improve her comfort. We
decided to access the left subclavian vein as this will allow us to
transition cannulation strategies without interrupting her ECMO circuit
or changes in the ventilatory support.