Acute Fulminant Myocarditis: A Bridge to Advanced Surgical Interventions With Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Myocarditis is an inflammatory pathology of the heart muscle, often resulting from viral or bacterial infections and, very occasionally, due to drug toxicity. Acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM), the most severe subtype, is an underdiagnosed, life-threatening condition characterized by sudden worsening of cardiac function progressing to cardiogenic shock or multiorgan failure. It remains associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, often secondary to delayed diagnosis. Despite its profound presentation, AFM may demonstrate significant reversibility when recognized early and treated aggressively. Here, we present a challenging case of a middle-aged male patient who presented with AFM and required a multimodal approach in his successful management. The patient required veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support as a bridge to advanced surgical procedures, including staged pericardiectomy and other supportive measures.