Anesthesia

Pneumocystis jiorvecii pneumonia is often AIDS exordium opportunistic infection. Evolution in respiratory distress syndrome is common and is potentially reversible but is still burdened by a mortality rate as high as 30% to 40% if managed by conventional treatment mainly based on optimal mechanical ventilation. Since 2009 the use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation has been shown to be very effective as salvage therapy in case of severe respiratory insufficiency not responsive to conventional therapy. HIV seropositivity has been considered a contraindication to extracorporeal life support. We report two cases of Pnumocystis jiorvecii pneumonia as AIDS exordium opportunistic infection. Both evolved to severe ARDS and were successfully treated with VV ECMO support.