Performance of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients with fatal paraquat poisoning:grasp for straws?

摘要

Dear editor,Paraquat(PQ)can cause acute lung injury and irreversible pulmonary fibrosis,without specific antidotes.Respiratory failure is the main cause of death among patients with PQ poisoning.Currently,the treatment involves the use of adsorbents,intensive hemoperfusion,antioxidants,immunosuppressive therapy,respiratory support by mechanical ventilation,and other symptomatic and supportive treatments.[1-3]The mortality of patients with severe PQ poisoning remains high.More eff ective and safer therapies remain to be explored.Few studies reported performing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)and subsequent lung transplantation with either successful or poor clinical outcome in extremely critical patients with PQ poisoning.[4,5]This study aims to summarize the clinical experience and refl ect on the therapeutic prospect of ECMO in respiratory failure or cardiopulmonary failure caused by fatal PQ poisoning.