Introduction
Sickle cell disease (SCD), a hereditary recessive hemoglobinopathy,
disproportionately affects the African-American population and is
associated with vaso-occlusion, such as acute chest syndrome
(ACS).1 The severe acute respiratory syndrome
Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) global pandemic has negatively impacted
children with SCD, leading to more intensive care unit admissions and
increased mortality.2 In children with acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to SARS-CoV-2, there is a
quickly rising need for extracorporeal mechanical oxygenation (ECMO)
support.3 Notably, ECMO in SARS-CoV-2 increases risk
of thromboembolism and coagulopathy, which is heightened in children
with SCD.4 The literature shows that ECMO use in the
SCD population is increasing, but a lingering degree of uncertainty
persists given their underlying propensity for hemolysis, stroke, and
thrombosis.5 In this correspondence, we report the
successful prolonged use of veno-venous ECMO (VV-ECMO) as a bridge to
recovery in a child with SCD who developed refractory ARDS due to
SARS-CoV-2.