The majority of chest penetrating trauma patients are successfully managed with tube thoracostomy and general supportive measures. Pulmonary resection for hemorrhagic shock is rarely required after trauma to control bleeding. Both pulmonary injury and massive blood transfusion can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The mortality rate in these patients reaches up to 40% despite advanced ventilatory treatment. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be started as rescue therapy. We report a case of 24-year-old man with major hemorrhagic shock with cardiac arrest and ARDS after traumatic penetrating lung injury that was successfully treated with pulmonary resection and ECMO.
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