# Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Burn Patients With Severe Inhalation Injuries: A Case Report

## TL;DR

This case report describes the use of ECMO to successfully manage a burn patient with severe inhalation injuries and respiratory failure.

## Contribution

The paper presents a novel application of venovenous ECMO in a rare and severe burn case with inhalation injury.

## Key findings

- Venovenous ECMO was effective in managing refractory hypoxemia in a patient with grade 4 inhalation injury.
- Circuit clot formation during ECMO was detected and managed successfully, emphasizing the importance of monitoring.
- ECMO can be a viable option for severe inhalation injuries when conventional therapies fail.

## Abstract

High-grade inhalational injuries are challenging to manage and increase the complexity and risk of respiratory dysfunction in burn patients. Treatment of these injuries typically requires aggressive supportive care, but in severe cases, conventional therapies do not provide adequate respiratory support. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been increasingly utilized in clinical scenarios where patients require respiratory support; however, it has been used sparingly in burn patients. We present the case of a 52-year-old female patient with grade 4 inhalational injury who developed severe refractory hypoxemia and subsequent circuit clot formation, successfully detected and managed with venovenous ECMO (VV-ECMO). During ECMO support, circuit clot formation occurred but was promptly detected and effectively managed, highlighting both the utility of VV-ECMO in high-grade inhalational injuries with refractory hypoxemia and the importance of vigilant circuit monitoring.