Endovascular Thrombectomy for Large Vessel Occlusion in a Patient on Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Case Report

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is utilized in the treatment of severe acute cardiac failure and respiratory failure. While it provides the advantage of oxygenating blood through extracorporeal circulation, it also carries risks of intracranial ischemic and hemorrhagic complications due to the continuous presence of artificial materials within the body. We encountered a case in which venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was initiated for fulminant myocarditis, and the patient subsequently developed a large vessel occlusion. The diagnosis was confirmed using perfusion computed tomography. A visible thrombus was observed on the arterial cannula of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit, and the large vessel occlusion was determined to have been caused by thromboembolism. An immediate extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit exchange was performed, followed by endovascular thrombectomy. The patient experienced no perioperative complications and achieved a favorable neurological outcome. Endovascular thrombectomy in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients requires careful perioperative management and should be promptly performed in eligible cases of thromboembolic events. Furthermore, because patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation are often sedated and under intensive systemic management, regular neurological assessments and intracranial monitoring are essential for the early detection of intracranial pathologies.