Successful Microsurgical Clipping under Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Treatment for a Poor-Grade Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patient with Severe Pulmonary Neurogenic Lung

Hemorrhagic strokes are considered as contraindications of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy because of anticoagulant administration and ECMO-associated coagulopathy. We present a rare case of successful microsurgical clipping under ECMO for a poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patient with severe neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE). A 50-year-old man presenting with the sudden loss of consciousness was diagnosed with poor-grade SAH with severe NPE, and was intubated. Because of severe hypoxemia refractory to conventional treatment, venovenous ECMO was used 6 hours after admission. To avoid thrombosis inside the ECMO circuit despite no anticoagulants, a heparin-bonded ECMO was maintained at a comparatively high blood flow rate. Subsequently, the patient underwent a microsurgical clipping under ECMO. Intraoperatively we had difficulty in bleeding control, and therefore the multiple transfusions were necessary to correct anemia and ECMO-associated coagulopathy. The aneurysmal clipping was accomplished without hemorrhagic intracranial complications. After 2 years from onset, his activities of daily life were independent. To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful microsurgical clipping for poor-grade SAH under ECMO without any anticoagulants. The use of a heparin-bonded ECMO tubing, maintenance of a slightly higher ECMO pump speed, and multiple transfusions to correct ECMO-associated coagulopathy could make the micro-neurosurgical procedures under ECMO possible. This report demonstrated the possibility to extend the range of application of microsurgical clipping for poor-grade SAH patients requiring ECMO treatment.