Novel pH1N1 viral cardiomyopathy requiring veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation*

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of pH1N1 viral infection presenting as heart failure requiring mechanical extracorporeal life support. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit at a regional children's hospital. PATIENT: Obese 15-yr-old boy who presented with pH1N1-related cardiomyopathy and respiratory failure that required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. INTERVENTIONS: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, echocardiography, high-frequency oscillating ventilation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Discovery of severe dilated cardiomyopathy and respiratory failure. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with pH1N1 may present in profound heart failure in addition to respiratory failure. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may play an important role in managing these complex patients.