Central ECMO for circulatory failure following pediatric liver transplantation

We describe the case of a 4-year-old male with a past medical history significant for nephrotic syndrome, short-bowel syndrome and fulminant hepatic failure status post (s/p) liver transplant (LT) who developed early post-transplant allograft dysfunction (hyperbilirubinemia, coagulopathy) and septic shock requiring central extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). He remained on ECMO for 85 hours before he was decannulated without event and later underwent repeat LT. This case highlights the potential of central ECMO to provide the circulatory output necessary to reverse distributive shock physiology in patients with sepsis and hepatic dysfunction following LT. Furthermore, this is the first documented example of central ECMO as a bridge to recovery for repeat LT.