A new leading-edge technology used by cardiothoracic surgeons at Holy Cross Hospital for the treatment of critically ill patients with advance cardiac or pulmonary disease has saved the life of a 39-year-old patient who would have otherwise died from COVID-19 pneumonia and respiratory failure.

“Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO therapy, has successfully been used at Holy Cross over the last year for the treatment of critically ill patients suffering advanced cardiac or pulmonary disease where medical therapies are limited or ineffective,” said Irving B, David, MD, Senior Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Holy Cross. “Our recent equipment updates have more than doubled our capacity to treat these critically ill patients and prepared us for a surge in need for many advanced therapies necessary to care for patients in our community suffering from COVID-19 pneumonia.”

ECMO therapy, along with strong support from Holy Cross surgeons, perfusionists, respiratory therapists, nurses and staff, saved the life of Fort Lauderdale resident Alberto Perez. While 21 COVID-19 patients have been saved by ECMO worldwide, this is the first such case where it has saved a life in South Florida.

"I am very grateful because I didn't know what was going to happen to me,” said Perez, who is comfortably breathing room air and speaking with family and friends less than three weeks after entering the hospital. “There have been no major changes, but my body is very weak and will need physical therapy."

In early March, Perez began developing recurring fevers that lasted for more than a week. While waiting for his COVID-19 test results, his breathing worsened. As his breathing became more labored, he required endotracheal intubation with placement on a ventilator. But full ventilator support could not provide enough oxygen to his body. The Holy Cross Hospital medical team then placed Perez in a medically induced coma, resting his body on an ECMO circuit for two weeks as he fought the virus. Utilizing convalescent serum, containing antibodies from recovered COVID patients, Perez began responding to treatment, with his lungs performing better. In early April, Perez was successfully separated from the ECMO circuit and extubated.

“Alberto remains one of the few success stories of critically ill patients in the world recovering from nearly terminal, advanced COVID-19 pneumonia,” said John N. Melvan, MD, PhD, ECMO, Director and Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Holy Cross.

“I am proud of our team here at Holy Cross where we have made a concerted effort to provide our community with the latest innovations for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, particularly during this pandemic.”

For more information and to stay up to date with Holy Cross Hospital news, please visit holy-cross.com.

ABOUT HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL

A member of Trinity Health, Fort Lauderdale-based Holy Cross Hospital is a full-service, non-profit, Catholic, teaching hospital operating in the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy. Holy Cross Hospital has been named one of the top five hospitals in the Miami metro area and among the top 20 in the state in U.S. News and World Report's 2019-2020 Best Hospital rankings. Through strategic collaborations and a commitment to being a person-centered, transforming, healing presence, the 557-bed hospital offers progressive inpatient, outpatient and community outreach services and clinical research trials to serve as our community’s trusted health partner for life. To learn more about Holy Cross Hospital, visit holy-cross.com. Connect @holycrossfl.