Successful endovascular management of common femoral artery perforation during cannulation for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

In massive pulmonary thromboembolism, requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation, venous-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can decompress the overloaded right atrium and ventricle while stabilizing hemodynamic status. However, vascular injuries occur in slightly less than 20% of cases during cannulation. In a 44- year-old woman with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism, a common femoral artery perforation occurred unexpectedly during cannulation for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The patient was unstable due to active bleeding. Fortunately, we occluded the bleeding site using a stent. Interventional cardiologists are frequently challenged by vascular injury during cannulation for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. We recommend imaging modalities to prevent vascular complications. However, if vascular injuries occur, stent placement should be considered for patients with arterial perforation during cannulation for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.