Life-Threatening Acute on Chronic Pulmonary Thromboembolism Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

A 71-year-old female patient was admitted to the emergency department with sudden aggravation of chest pain and severe dyspnea. Computed tomography showed extensive pulmonary thromboembolism. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was instituted due to sudden bradycardia and hypotension. An emergency operation was performed. However, chronic pulmonary thromboembolism combined with an acute pulmonary embolism was detected in the operating room. Embolectomy and endarterectomy were performed. ECMO was then discontinued. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 13 with warfarin for anticoagulation. The patient was followed up for 46 months as an outpatient without further thromboembolic events.