How to treat fulminant myocarditis

  Fulminant myocarditis has a rapid onset and quickly becomes a serious life-threatening condition with a very high early mortality rate that requires prompt hospitalization and aggressive treatment.  Fulminant myocarditis is one of the highest risk types of myocarditis. This type of myocarditis is often acute, with cardiac symptoms appearing within 24 hours and the disease progressing extremely rapidly, with patients quickly developing heart failure, severe arrhythmias, and respiratory failure and liver and kidney failure. Fulminant myocarditis can occur at any age and is more common in children and young adults; it can occur in any season, with a high incidence in winter and spring; and is mainly caused by viral infections. It should be treated with early intervention.  China published the first Chinese Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Adult Fulminant Myocarditis (2017) in 2017, which has detailed instructions for the treatment of this fulminant myocarditis. The guidelines emphasize a “comprehensive life-support-based treatment plan” under detailed examination and evaluation, which includes 24-hour close monitoring of vital signs in the intensive care unit, symptomatic supportive treatment for symptoms, antiviral and immunomodulatory treatment for etiology and pathogenesis, life support for hemodynamics, blood purification For critically ill patients, it also includes advanced life support treatment such as intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP), respiratory support, extracorporeal membrane lung, etc. The death rate of fulminant myocarditis has been reduced from 70% to less than 10% with the concerted efforts of the medical and nursing staff, but it is still an extremely dangerous disease that requires hospitalization as soon as possible.  The core of treatment for fulminant myocarditis, with its rapid onset and high mortality rate, is early detection and aggressive hospitalization.