Abstract
Diagnostic microbiology and management of sepsis have advanced, even though the complication of multiorgan dysfunction remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. An estimated incidence of sepsis in 2017 is about 48 million a year, including 11 million sepsis- related deaths, which represents 19.7% of all global deaths.(1,2) Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a devastating complication of sepsis, conventionally, a substantial number of patients require mechanical ventilation (MV) to avert hypoxemia and hypercapnia. However, MV per se can cause lung injury, accelerating the disease progression. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the management of ARDS has grown considerably in the past decade. More recently, an increasing popularity of spontaneous breathing and awake patients undergoing ECMO is seen, as well as the use of various types of hemadsorbers for reducing pathologically increased inflammatory response.(3) The purpose of this case report is to review airway and multiorgan support management during ECMO.