Background
Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is characterized
clinically by the onset of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
within 6 hours of initiation of blood transfusion with difficulty
breathing, hypoxemia, hypotension, and bilateral pulmonary edema
[1]. TRALI is a major cause of blood transfusion-related death.
The differential diagnosis of
TRALI includes heart failure and pneumonia. TRALI occurs in the
peri-operative period in 1.3-1.4% of patients who receive a blood
transfusion [2]. Though approximately 80% of patients recover from
TRALI within 2 to 3 days, the reported mortality rate is 13-18%
[3,4]. The case of a patient who developed TRALI after
intra-operative platelet transfusion in whom veno-venous extracorporeal
membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) support for severe and refractory
hypoxemia was effective for life-saving is presented. The patient’s
written, informed consent for publication of this case report was
obtained.