BACKGROUND

Acute pulmonary thromboembolism is a complication of venous thrombosis. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), an effective rescue measure for rapid hemodynamic recovery, can be used in patients for whom thrombolysis therapy has failed.

CASE SUMMARY

This case report describes an extreme rescue process for a patient with a preset inferior vena cava (IVC) filter in a relatively economically underdeveloped area with an insufficient supply of consumables. In an emergency, veno-arterial ECMO was successfully initiated by intubation through the IVC filter to the right atrial opening without displacement of the filter during the entire process.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that in resource-limited settings, femoral vein cannulation for veno-arterial ECMO is a feasible and safe option for patients with pre-implanted IVC filters.