Pump-controlled retrograde trial off (PCRTO) is described as an effective weaning strategy for veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the guidelines. Contrastingly, there is no established weaning strategy for veno-arteriovenous (V-AV) ECMO. We report a novel application of PCRTO in a patient undergoing V-AV ECMO.

A 49-year-old man had pneumonia and a history of kidney transplantation. Two days after intubation, respiratory failure progressed and veno-venous (V-V) ECMO was introduced. On day 7 after ECMO, the configuration was changed to V-AV ECMO owing to septic cardiomyopathy due to suspected cholangitis. On day 15, with partial haemodynamic improvement and persistent respiratory failure, PCRTO was performed; the patient was safely returned to V-V ECMO.

In patients undergoing V-AV ECMO, PCRTO could have the potential to accurately simulate decannulation of the arterial cannula.