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Restarting "White Lungs": ECMO Technology at the Fourth People's Hospital of Chenzhou City Successfully Saves Critically Ill Pneumonia Patients
2026-01-07 21:40Official account of Hunan Rednet New Media Group Co., Ltd.
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Chenzhou, January 7 (Rednet News) – Recently, the Department of Critical Care Medicine at the Fourth People's Hospital of Chenzhou City successfully used extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) technology to treat a patient with severe pneumonia complicated by severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, demonstrating its comprehensive strength and advanced technology in the field of critical care.
Patient Liu (pseudonym) developed a sudden high fever and shortness of breath. After two days of treatment at another hospital, his condition worsened, and he was urgently transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of the Fourth People's Hospital of Chenzhou City. Despite non-invasive ventilation, his hypoxia symptoms did not improve, and his blood oxygen saturation continued to decline. The attending physician immediately performed endotracheal intubation and switched to invasive mechanical ventilation, and a CT scan was performed. The results showed that the patient had consolidation in his left lung and a large area of lesions in his right lung, with less than one-third of his lung function remaining. He was diagnosed with severe pneumonia complicated by severe ARDS and respiratory failure.
The medical team quickly collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for NGS testing to accurately combat infection, while implementing protective lung ventilation strategies and prone ventilation. However, the patient's condition continued to deteriorate, and his life was in imminent danger.
The department quickly organized a discussion on critical cases. Conventional ventilator and prone positioning treatment could no longer correct hypoxia. At this point, the only option was to use the "trump card"—ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). The emergency plan was immediately activated, and a battle to save lives began.
ECMO technology temporarily replaces lung function through extracorporeal circulation, buying time for lung tissue repair. The intensive care unit team, with their extensive experience and skillful operation, successfully performed double-lumen venous catheterization. As the device operated, the patient's blood oxygen saturation rapidly recovered, and their circulation and ventilation significantly improved.
ECMO initiation is only the first step in treatment; subsequent management is equally crucial. The team established a dedicated ECMO team, with 24-hour shifts monitoring equipment parameters and the patient's condition to prevent complications such as bleeding, thrombosis, and infection. During treatment, the patient developed acute kidney injury with significant anuria. The team decisively employed ECMO combined with CRRT (continuous renal replacement therapy) to overcome the challenges of this combined treatment and stabilize the patient's condition.
Under the meticulous care of medical staff, the patient's vital signs gradually stabilized. After a week of continuous efforts, the patient's "white lung" condition improved significantly, and ECMO and ventilator were successfully removed. To further promote recovery, the medical team will focus on subsequent rehabilitation treatment to help the patient be transferred out of the intensive care unit as soon as possible.
The successful implementation of ECMO technology represents a significant breakthrough in the field of critical care medicine at the Fourth People's Hospital of Chenzhou City. It not only fills a technological gap within the hospital but also signifies that the hospital possesses mature and independent operational capabilities in advanced respiratory and circulatory support, establishing a standardized emergency and critical care system and bringing hope to more patients.
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