Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as bridge to effective treatment in a 19-year-old woman with acute adrenal crisis: a case report.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Adrenal crisis is an acute life-threatening exacerbation of the Addison's disease or primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) and is associated with a high mortality rate. It can be the first manifestation of adrenal insufficiency and is caused by a critical lack of glucocorticoids.

Case summary

Here, we report the case of a 19-year-old woman presenting to the emergency room with unspecific symptoms, i.e. lethargy, fatigue, arthralgia, dyspnoea, and hypotension. The patient's examination showed major pericardial effusion resulting in cardiac tamponade requiring immediate pericardiocentesis. In the further course, acute right heart failure and progressive cardiogenic shock occurred. Due to recurrent bradycardia and finally asystole, the patient had to be resuscitated fo

SUBMITTER: Lusebrink E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7896809 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature