Abstract
Near-fatal asthma (NFA) is the most severe presentation of asthma. It is characterized by hypoxemic and hypercapnic respiratory failure requiring ventilatory assistance, including non-invasive ventilation and mechanical ventilation. However, NFA has a high mortality rate despite conventional therapy. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a treatment modality that is increasingly being utilized as rescue therapy in patients with NFA that is refractory to mechanical ventilation. Prior analyses of the international Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry data showed a survival rate of over 83% in patients placed on venovenous (VV) ECMO for NFA, but with notable rate of hemorrhagic complications. We report seven cases of adults with NFA requiring ECMO support at our large quaternary care institution between the years 2019 and 2022. All seven patients presented with respiratory failure in the setting of asthma exacerbation that progressed despite standard pharmacotherapy and mechanical ventilation. All patients survived to hospital discharge after ECMO support without hemorrhagic complications, highlighting the effectiveness and safety of ECMO when appropriately used in this population.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
