Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acute pulmonary thromboembolism is a complication of venous thrombosis. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), an effective rescue measure for rapid hemodynamic recovery, can be used in patients for whom thrombolysis therapy has failed. CASE SUMMARY: This case report describes an extreme rescue process for a patient with a preset inferior vena cava (IVC) filter in a relatively economically underdeveloped area with an insufficient supply of consumables. In an emergency, veno-arterial ECMO was successfully initiated by intubation through the IVC filter to the right atrial opening without displacement of the filter during the entire process. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that in resource-limited settings, femoral vein cannulation for veno-arterial ECMO is a feasible and safe option for patients with pre-implanted IVC filters.