Percutaneous venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to double valve implantation in acute biventricular heart failure with profound cardiogenic shock

A 71-year-old woman was admitted with acute hypoxic and hypercapnic respiratory failure and cardiogenic shock, secondary to acute on chronic biventricular systolic and diastolic congestive heart failure and severe aortic and mitral valve stenosis. She further presented with pulmonary hypertension and moderate-to-severe tricuspid regurgitation requiring high and increasing doses of vasopressors. The patient was percutaneously cannulated for venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and stabilized on ECMO, with a urine output of 17.3 L within the following 8 days. Balloon valvuloplasty and/or transcatheter aortic valve replacement were discussed but ruled out by the multidisciplinary team considering the mitral valve could not be fully addressed. Though lung function was not fully optimized, a window of opportunity was identified and used for double valve replacement on day 8 of VA-ECMO support. After a 24-hour vasoplegic period, the patient was extubated to continuous positive airway pressure and further transitioned to nasal cannula, following which she recovered well.