Successful treatment of fulminant myocarditis in an adult in emergency department: A case report

RATIONALE: Fulminant myocarditis (FM) has poor prognosis and the usual treatment is inotropes and symptomatic support. The initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) in the emergency department (ED) is a rare event. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report the case of a 45-year-old man with a complaint of 4 days of high fever and dry cough in the emergency department. DIAGNOSIS: Transthoracic echocardiogram and the medical history showed presumptive diagnosis was fulminant myocarditis with cardiogenic shock. INTERVENTIONS: The patient's condition deteriorated drastically and ECMO was initiated immediately after admission. He experienced electrical storm twice during ECMO support and was successfully treated with the combination with IABP. OUTCOMES: ECMO and IABP were continued for 11 and 14 days respectively. The patient was discharged on the 81th day after admission, with all his laboratory tests returned to normal. LESSONS SUBSECTIONS: The early initiation of ECMO and IABP in the ED is potentially life-saving for suitable patients with FM. It appears promising but has not yet been routinely implemented in underdeveloped and developing countries.