Prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and circulatory support as bridge to lung transplant

A 38-year-old man with progressive alveolitis secondary to polymyositis was treated for 52 days with venovenous and venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to bilateral lung transplantation. The patient survived, despite multiple complications, and is now back home with good pulmonary function. He is working part-time nearly 3 years post-transplant. This case shows that long-term extracorporeal lung assist is a viable but demanding alternative for bridging patients to pulmonary transplantation. This case also shows that right ventricular failure necessating conversion to venoarterial assist does not necessarily predict right ventricular failure post-transplant.