ECMO-assisted esophagectomy after left pneumonectomy.

Background: Esophagectomy after pneumonectomy has been rarely reported, mainly due to the technical difficulty in performing this surgical approach. Conventional intubation to the contralateral respiratory passage is technically challenging, while the homolateral respiratory tract is absent, making oxygenation impossible.

Methods: To overcome this problem, we used venoarterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) which can help achieve gas exchange despite the collapsed lung and provide a clear unobstructed surgical field for esophagectomy.

Results: We obtained satisfactory outcomes with VA ECMO in our treated patient.

Conclusions: This technique may be an excellent option for the treatment of complex situations such as esophagectomy after pneumonectomy.