Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation—A Chance for Survival after Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an increasingly popular method for the treatment of patients with life-threatening conditions. The case we have described is characterized by the effectiveness of therapy despite resuscitation lasting more than one hour. A 3.5-year-old girl with a negative medical history was admitted to the Department of Cardiology due to ectopic atrial tachycardia. It was decided to perform electrical cardioversion under intravenous anaesthesia. During the induction of anaesthesia, cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity (PEA) occurred. Despite resuscitation, a permanent hemodynamically effective heart rhythm was not achieved. Due to prolonged resuscitation (over one hour) and persistent PEA, it was decided to use veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. After three days of intensive ECMO therapy, hemodynamic stabilization was achieved. The time of implementing ECMO therapy and assessment of the initial clinical status of the patient should be emphasized.