Treatment of cardiogenic shock in peripartum cardiomyopathy: Case series from a tertiary ECMO center

Abstract

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) occurs toward the end of pregnancy or in the months after delivery without previously known structural heart disease. Development of therapy-refractory cardiogenic shock is described in the literature with a limited number of overall presented cases in this young patient cohort. To provide differences and key points in the therapy of end-stage PPCM patients, we present a case series of four young women with PPCM referred to our department for potential VA ECMO support.

Keywords: ECMO; cardiogenic shock; postpartum cardiomyopathy.