Pediatric patient with fulminant myocarditis ‘100% risk of death’ is saved

On the morning of June 9, Hue Central Hospital said that after a week of intensive treatment, the life of pediatric patient Truong Phuc GH (11 years old, residing in Hue City) had fulminant myocarditis with complications of cardiogenic shock and ventricular fibrillation˳ extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) technique˳

Previously, the patient was hospitalized with pain in the posterior sternum region, the electrocardiogram showed ventricular arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, and the test reflected damaged myocardium˳ The patient was diagnosed with fulminant myocarditis, the risk of death is very high˳

The pediatric patient received active medical treatment in the direction of fulminant myocarditis and closely monitored vital functions˳

After one day of treatment, the disease worsened, appeared ventricular fibrillation, decreased consciousness, pulseless˳ The doctors performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and electric shock twice, but the ventricular arrhythmias remained, blood pressure dropped, and myocardial contractility severely decreased to 32%˳

Determined to be a case of cardiogenic shock due to fulminant myocarditis with ventricular fibrillation, the risk of death is 100% if no extracorporeal circulatory support technique is indicated˳

After the consultation, the patient was immediately carried out with circulatory support through extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA – ECMO) combined with invasive mechanical ventilation and active medical treatment˳

After many days of treatment, the contractile function of the heart improved, the index reflecting myocardial damage decreased, the vital parameters and cardiac function improved, the patient was stopped from VA – ECMO support and stopped breathing˳ machine˳

Currently, the patient is awake, has good contact, can drink milk, can eat porridge, has stable vital signs, and is no longer breathing oxygen˳ The patient will continue to be monitored at the pediatric cardiology department and is expected to be discharged early next week˳

Prof˳ Dr˳ Pham Nhu Hiep, director of Hue Central Hospital, said that this is the first time the hospital has deployed VA-ECMO technique at the pediatric center to save the life of a child suffering from cardiogenic shock due to myositis˳

“This technique has been performed at the hospital since 2009, mainly to resuscitate patients with myocarditis, cardiogenic shock after cardiovascular surgery˳ Currently VA-ECMO is a heart and lung support technique that helps save lives˳ for a lot of critically ill patients who don’t respond to conventional treatments,” said Mr˳ Hiep˳

Thuy’s dream is to support children with cancer in the Central region: Having a mother to take care of two children with serious illnesses

Gifts of great value from the Sun Flower Relay program have reached the hands of pediatric cancer patients in the Central region˳ Receiving the gift, many parents were touched, “I wish there were more relay programs like the Sun Flower Relay”˳