Interhospitaltransfer eines Patienten mit schwerer respiratorischer Insuffizienz in Folge einer Legionellose mittels Einsatz einer PECLA (pumpless extracorporal lung assist)

摘要

We report the first interhospital transfer applying pumpless extracorporal lung assist (PECLA) in a severe case of pulmonary failure of a young man. The patient, a 25-yr-old man, developed respiratory failure due to legionnaires’ disease. The treatment regime included appropriate antibiotic treatment, mechanical ventilation and, finally, the transport of the patient after PECLA installation from the ICU of a county hospital to the medical ICU of a university hospital. The initiation of PECLA resulted in dramatic improvement within the next 6 days. The patient could be successfully weaned from PECLA after 12 days and from mechanical ventilation after another 5 days. In conclusion, pumpless extracorporal lung assist improved oxygenation and hemodynamic performance in this case of severe respiratory failure, so that the patient could be transported to a center for maximal intensive care treatment.