Bedside transseptal balloon dilation atrial septostomy for decompression of the left heart during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

A 10-year-old male presented with severe heart failure secondary to myocarditis. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was instituted. He developed severe left heart distention with acute pulmonary hemorrhage. Balloon dilation of the atrial septum to decompress the left atrium was performed at the bedside with transesophageal echocardiographic guidance. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 46:197–199, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.