Corynebacterium ulcerans pneumonia treated with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a case report.

We report the first case of airway obstruction due to toxin-producing Corynebacterium ulcerans, successfully managed with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO). A woman aged 73 years who was living with companion animals was intubated for pneumonia of unknown origin and treated with an empirical antimicrobial agent. Corynebacterium species were detected in the sputum and treated as commensal bacteria. Subsequently, the patient suddenly could not ventilate because of central airway obstruction caused by pseudomembrane formation. Therefore, V-V ECMO was initiated. Additional mass spectrometry identified the Corynebacterium species as C. ulcerans. After treatment with antitoxin, the patient was successfully weaned from V-V ECMO. Hence, in patients in contact with companion animals who present with respiratory failure and pseudomembrane formation, C. ulcerans pneumonia should be suspected and treated with antitoxin. C. ulcerans pneumonia may result in an inability to ventilate due to pseudomembrane formation. Therefore, treatment strategies including V-V ECMO should be considered in such cases.

Successful management of retropharyngeal hematoma by trans-arterial embolism without intubation.

BACKGROUND: Retropharyngeal hematoma can cause suffocation if there is delay in securing the airway by intubation. However, there are also concerns about complications that can arise with intubation; it is still unknown which cases do not require intubation. CASE PRESENTATION: An 88-year-old woman slipped and was found prone and was transported to the emergency room. She was alert without any stridor. Physical examination revealed a subcutaneous hematoma in the anterior cervical region. Computed tomography revealed a retropharyngeal hematoma. Angiography and computed tomography angiography showed extravasation from the right costocervical trunk. A radiologist performed trans-arterial embolization, and she had an uneventful course without intubation or developing any complication. She became ambulatory on postoperative day 5. CONCLUSION: Angiography and computed tomography angiography help in early recognition of extravasation in retropharyngeal hematoma, and trans-arterial embolization can help to avoid intubation and its complications.

Delayed retroperitoneal hemorrhage during veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a case report.

CASE: There are several reports of retroperitoneal hemorrhage induced by percutaneous femoral cannulation for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). However, there are no reports of delayed retroperitoneal hemorrhage, which develops a few days after ECMO initiation and is unrelated to the ECMO cannulation. Herein, we report a rare case of delayed retroperitoneal hemorrhage during veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). OUTCOME: A 54-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. We initiated VV-ECMO. The patient had severe delirium and was confined to a long-term supine position to maintain circuit safety. On day 13, computed tomography unexpectedly revealed a large retroperitoneal hemorrhage spreading around the psoas muscle. CONCLUSION: Delayed retroperitoneal hemorrhage can develop during VV-ECMO management a few days after its initiation. Anticoagulant use and forceful muscular strain could be risk factors of delayed retroperitoneal hemorrhage.