Avoidance of intubation during acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for a lung transplant candidate using extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal with the Hemolung

For patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experiencing an acute exacerbation, the necessity for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) not only is associated with high mortality1,2 but also can be particularly disadvantageous to a patient also awaiting lung transplantation.3 In this case report, we describe our use of a novel extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2R) device for partial respiratory support in such a patient who was failing support with noninvasive ventilation (NIV).