First successful treatment of COVID-19 induced refractory cardiogenic plus vasoplegic shock by combination of pVAD and ECMO - a case report

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is infecting hundreds of thousands of humans around the globe. The coronavirus disease COVID-19 is known to generate mild as well as critical courses. Complications on the intensive care units include acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute cardiac- and kidney injury as well as shock.Here, we present the first case report of a successful treatment of a COVID-19 patient presenting with ARDS plus refractory combined cardiogenic and vasoplegic shock, which could be successfully stabilized after implantation of a percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) plus an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).While such intense treatment might not be feasible in case of a health care disaster as described for the hot spots of the COVID-19 pandemic, it might encourage treatment of younger patients on intensive care units not overcrowded by critically ill patients.