Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Program Research Articles

Learning curve for multidisciplinary team setup in veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory failure.

Quality control is essential for a successful extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program. We investigated the learning curve for outcome improvement and focused on factors associated with failure of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment. Between August 2011 and May 2017, 150 patients were supported with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory failure. The learning curve was examined using cumulative sum analysis. We defined successful extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment as intensive care unit discharge, acceptable failure rate as 40%, and unacceptable failure rate as 60%. We chronologically divided patients into three periods with 50 consecutive patients each and retrospectively compared the clinical outcomes by period. Overall, weaning and survival to discharge rates were 72.7% and 56%, respectively. Cumulative sum analysis indicated that the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation team achieved nearly acceptable performance after 56 cases and consistently acceptable performance after 104 cases. Clinical outcomes were improved by period: weaning rate (58% vs. 80% vs. 80%, p = 0.017); intensive care unit discharge rate (42% vs. 60% vs. 78%, p = 0.001); survival to discharge rate (40% vs. 58% vs. 70%, p = 0.010); and 1 year survival rate (40% vs. 56% vs. 70%, p = 0.010). In multivariate analysis, infection (odds ratio: 4.54, 95% confidence interval: 1.83-11.27, p = 0.001), immune compromise (odds ratio: 5.78, 95% confidence interval: 1.66-20.14, p = 0.006), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation team period (odds ratio: 2.12, 95% confidence interval: 1.14-3.92, p = 0.017), and age (odds ratio: 1.09, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.14, p < 0.001) were associated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation failure. More than 100 cases of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation experience were necessary for acceptable performance and stabilization of outcomes.

Establishing an ECMO program in a developing country: challenges and lessons learned.

The ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) Program at the American University of Beirut Medical Center was established in November 2015 as the first program serving adult and pediatric population in a low-resource setting. The aim of the study is to describe the challenges faced during the establishment of the program and factors leading to its success. The program establishment is described. The preparation phase, included the strategic, financial, and clinical planning by administration, nursing, and a multidisciplinary team of physicians. The training and education phase included all the involved nurses, perfusionists, and physicians. Concerns were heard from various stakeholders, and the challenges were analyzed and discussed. The preparation committee chose the adequate equipment, responded to the concerns, defined roles and responsibilities through credentialing and privileging, wrote policies and protocols, and established a strategy to decide for the ECMO indication. Selected team of nurses, physicians, and perfusionists are identified and trained locally, and abroad. A full-time ECMO physician was recruited to launch the program. Twelve patients (6 adults, 3 children, and 3 neonates) were supported by ECMO, for cardiac and respiratory indications. Eleven patients were supported by veno-arterial ECMO, and 1 patient (a neonate) with veno-venous ECMO. Overall, 75% survived to decannulation and 41% survived to discharge. With limited human and financial resources, new ECMO centers need to carefully establish selection criteria that may differ from those used in developed countries. Indications should be discussed on a case by case basis, taking into account clinical, social, and financial issues. This experience might help other institutions in developing countries to build their own program despite financial and human limitations.

Effect of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Availability on the Survival of Neonates with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Objective: Neonatal congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is one of the major congenital anomalies with high mortality rates. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a rescue therapy for CDH patients who do not respond to conventional ventilation strategies. The aim of this study is to compare the epochs before and after the introduction of neonatal ECMO program and to determine its impact on response and survival of neonates with isolated CDH.Materials and Methods: Admitted neonates with CDH patients since 2012 were separated into two epochs according to the establishment of ECMO: Pre-ECMO period (January 2012–August 2015) and ECMO period (September 2015–December 2017). The demographic, clinical, and surgical data of the patients were compared between these two periods.Results: During the study period, a total of 35 neonates with CDH were admitted. Patient characteristics and surgical data were similar in both groups. Need for high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) was higher in the pre-ECMO period (P = 0.04). The length of hospitalization was longer in ECMO period (P = 0.01). Three among seven patients who received ECMO survived (43%). Survival rates at the time of discharge were similar in groups (39% vs. 47%, P = 0.625). It was demonstrated that having oxygenation index &gt;40 at first 24 h (odds ratio (OR): 12, 95% Cl 2.37–60.64, P = 0.03) and the ratio of pulmonary artery pressure to systolic pressure &gt; 1 (OR: 6, 95% Cl 1.33–27.04, P = 0.02) increased mortality.Conclusion: The establishment of neonatal ECMO program was not associated with an improvement in survival of isolated CDH patients. We suggest that better outcomes may be achieved with defining selective criteria for ECMO candidates.

Effect of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Availability on the Survival of Neonates with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Objective: Neonatal congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is one of the major congenital anomalies with high mortality rates. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a rescue therapy for CDH patients who do not respond to conventional ventilation strategies. The aim of this study is to compare the epochs before and after the introduction of neonatal ECMO program and to determine its impact on response and survival of neonates with isolated CDH. Materials and Methods: Admitted neonates with CDH patients since 2012 were separated into two epochs according to the establishment of ECMO: Pre-ECMO period (January 2012–August 2015) and ECMO period (September 2015–December 2017). The demographic, clinical, and surgical data of the patients were compared between these two periods. Results: During the study period, a total of 35 neonates with CDH were admitted. Patient characteristics and surgical data were similar in both groups. Need for high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) was higher in the pre-ECMO period (P = 0.04). The length of hospitalization was longer in ECMO period (P = 0.01). Three among seven patients who received ECMO survived (43%). Survival rates at the time of discharge were similar in groups (39% vs. 47%, P = 0.625). It was demonstrated that having oxygenation index >40 at first 24 h (odds ratio (OR): 12, 95% Cl 2.37–60.64, P = 0.03) and the ratio of pulmonary artery pressure to systolic pressure > 1 (OR: 6, 95% Cl 1.33–27.04, P = 0.02) increased mortality. Conclusion: The establishment of neonatal ECMO program was not associated with an improvement in survival of isolated CDH patients. We suggest that better outcomes may be achieved with defining selective criteria for ECMO candidates.

Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR): Initiation and Surgical Technique in the Pediatric Population

Surgical outcomes in the field of congenital heart surgery have dramatically improved over the last several decades. This success has led to sicker and more complex children presenting for major corrective surgery. Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in form of mechanical circulatory support that has become an integral service of most congenital heart programs; the concept of ECPR is essentially the rapid and effective initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), usually at the bedside and often on an infant who has just undergone repair of a complex congenital heart defect. The financial resources and personnel that must be dedicated to an ECPR program exceed those of routine ECMO programs and must be justified relative to the surgical complexity that a particular institution chooses to offer its patients. With the appropriate dedication of resources and personnel, ECPR has been shown to improve postoperative survival as compared to outcomes when this service is not available.

The ECMO specialist’s role in troubleshooting ECMO emergencies

Whether a patient still has native lung function or not, respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) complications need an immediate response from the ECMO team assigned to the patient. Methodological troubleshooting can be a key aspect to responding to an ECMO emergency if the cause of the issue is not clearly identifiable. To decrease the incidence of ECMO emergencies clear procedures must be in place and the ECMO team must be continuously trained through a variety of approaches before attempting to put a patient on ECMO or being given the responsibility of looking after such patient. Procedures that meet Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) standards, a sufficient level of ECMO activity, and adequate competency of the clinicians are key to the success of an ECMO program. Both procedures and clinicians can be informed and tested using didactic sessions, focus group discussions, scenario-based simulations, water drills, bedside education, and case debriefings. Such activities should be ongoing and with adequate support for monitoring of skills validation, commonly faced issues, and patient outcomes.

Prognostic impact of blood product transfusion in VA and VV ECMO.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an accepted and reliable technique to provide temporary circulatory and/or respiratory support. Our objective was to describe the transfusion requirements in ECMO recipients. Secondarily, we addressed the effect of indications for ECMO on transfusion requirements and the baseline factors associated with worse survival. We reviewed the prospectively collected data of 509 patients receiving venoarterial (VA) or venovenous (VV) ECMO therapy (2005-2016). Follow-up was prospectively conducted. Data were prospectively entered in the Rennes ECMO database. VA ECMO was employed in 81% of cases; indications were post-cardiotomy myocardial failure in 28% of cases, post-heart transplantation (early graft failure) in 13.2% and cardiogenic shock in 149 (36.4%). VV ECMO was employed in the remaining patients. Average follow-up was 80.25 ± 85.13 days and was 100% complete. In the VA and VV groups, survival at the 30th post-implantation day was 58.3% and 71.1%, respectively, and survival at 6 months was 40.5% and 50.5%, respectively. Platelets and prothrombin time (PT) levels were significantly lower in the VA ECMO group at implantation (p<0.001). VA ECMO patients had a higher rate of thrombotic/haemorrhagic complications (p<0.001) and received both fresh frozen plasma (FFP) (60.5% vs. 31.8% p<0.001) and platelet units (Plt) (61.7% vs. 34.1% p<0.001) more frequently than VV ECMO patients. Post-cardiotomy and post-transplantation patients had significantly higher rates of transfusion of packed red blood cells (pRBC), FFP and Plt than other VA ECMO cases (p<0.001, all). Mortality was equal or greater than 80% among patient subgroups who received more than 19 pRBC, 5 Plt and/or 12 FFP. An ECMO program is associated with important consumption of blood products. VA ECMO patients have a greater transfusion burden than VV ECMO patients. Mortality is greater in the case of extreme transfusion requirements.

Prototype of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy simulator used in regional ECMO program.

Simulation is widely accepted as an important tool in training and educating healthcare providers. The first regional polish extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program called "ECMO for Greater Poland" was recently started. We present a prototype for ECMO prepared for high-fidelity medical simulation in extracorporeal life support. ECMO therapy is a complex, difficult and expensive therapy in patient care. We have constructed an advanced ECMO simulation prototype, which can be used as a training tool in scenarios that prepare for real-life experiences. The "ECMO for Greater Poland" program uses high-fidelity simulation as a superior tool to simulate several complex clinical scenarios, and consequently train healthcare providers in rare, complicated and expensive procedures. The training course is standardized and allows repeatable training, improvement of skills, and an objective verification of trained skills. The ECMO simulation prototype is designed to replicate the physiological circulatory system and simulate several scenarios (i.e., bleeding, low pressure, occlusion, reaction for proper and incorrect pharmacological treatment). The electronic core control unit (CCU) with silicone tubes, artificial vessels (modified polyethylene) and analog components can be connected to an ECMO machine to emulate the human body during an ECMO simulation. If necessary, damaged and used parts can easily be replaced. The total cost of the simulator is approximately 450 and 50 USD for disposable parts. This newly developed advanced ECMO simulation prototype was recently introduced into education and regularly training of healthcare providers of the "ECMO for Greater Poland" program. The simulation based training program is financially affordable and enables clinical teaching in a wider range of clinical scenarios. The ECMO simulation prototype consequently improves level of expertise of the healthcare providers and finally improves quality in patient care.

The Impact of an Advanced ECMO Program on Traumatically Injured Patients.

In June 2016, an advanced extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program consisting of a multidisciplinary team was initiated at a large level-one trauma center. The program was created to standardize management for patients with a wide variety of pathologies, including trauma. This study evaluated the impact of the advanced ECMO program on the outcomes of traumatically injured patients undergoing ECMO. A retrospective cohort study was performed on all patients sustaining traumatic injury who required ECMO support from January 2014 to September 2017. The primary outcome was to determine survival in trauma ECMO patients in the two timeframes, before and after initiation of the advanced ECMO program. Secondary outcomes included complication rates, length of stay, ventilator usage, and ECMO days. One hundred and thirty eight patients were treated with ECMO during the study period. Of the 138 patients, 22 sustained traumatic injury. Seven patients were treated in our pre-group and 15 in our post-group. The majority of patients were treated with VV ECMO. Our post group VV ECMO extracorporeal survival rate was 64% and our survival to discharge was 55%. This study demonstrated an improvement in survival after implementation of our advanced ECMO program. The implementation of a multidisciplinary trauma ECMO team dedicated to the rescue of critically ill patients is the key for achieving excellent outcomes in the trauma population.

Revisiting extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for ARDS in burns: A case series and review of the literature

IntroductionRecent reports on the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in critically ill burn patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) recommended against the use of ECMO. The authors cited the high mortality rates associated with the use of ECMO in these patients with no appreciable benefit. Accumulating evidence from referral centers suggests improved survival in patients with ARDS receiving ECMO. We report our recent experience treating patients with severe ARDS with ECMO in a burn intensive care unit. MethodsThis is a case series of consecutive patients placed on ECMO at our burn center from the initiation of our program in September 2012 to September 2017. We included only adult patients who had been placed on ECMO with burn injury, TEN, or inhalation injury and severe ARDS. ResultsFourteen patients with burn injury, inhalation injury or TEN were placed on ECMO from the initiation of the ECMO program to September 1st 2017. The average total body surface area burned in the 11 patients with burn injury was 27% (range 0.25–76%). The cause of ARDS in these patients included inhalation injury, airway trauma and bacterial pneumonia. Four patients had an inhalation injury and 1 patient had a grade 3 inhalation injury but no burn injury.In the majority of cases, prone positioning and use of neuromuscular blockade was also used in an attempt to improve oxygenation and patient synchrony with mechanical ventilation. The average time on ECMO was 276h (range 63–539h). Ten of the 14 patients survived to decanulation from ECMO (71%) and eight of 14 patients (57%) survived to hospital discharge. ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the lowest mortality rate reported to date in burn patients with ARDS place on ECMO. ECMO is a viable therapy that can be utilized successfully as a rescue modality when conventional interventions are unsuccessful.

Past and present role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in combat casualty care: How far will we go?

Advanced extracorporeal therapies have been successfully applied in the austere environment of combat casualty care over the previous decade. In this review, we describe the historic underpinnings of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, review the recent experience with both partial and full lung support during combat operations, and critically assess both the current status of the Department of Defense extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program and the way forward to establish long-range lung rescue therapy as a routine capability for combat casualty care.

Start a Neonatal Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Program: A Multistep Team Training.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a complex life-saving support for acute cardio-respiratory failure, unresponsive to medical treatment. Emergency events on ECMO are rare but require immediate and proficient management. Multidisciplinary ECMO team members need to acquire and maintain over time cognitive, technical and behavioral skills, to safely face life-threatening clinical scenarios.Methods: A multistep educational program was delivered in a 4-year period to 32 ECMO team members, based on guidelines from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. A first traditional module was provided through didactic lectures, hands-on water drills, and laboratory animal training. The second phase consisted of a multi-edition high-fidelity simulation-based training on a modified neonatal mannequin (SimNewB®). In each session, participants were called to face, in small groups, ten critical scenarios, followed by debriefing time. Trainees underwent a pre-test for baseline competency assessment. Once completed the full training program, a post-test was administered. Pre- and post-test scores were compared. Trainees rated the educational program through survey questionnaires.Results: 28 trainees (87.5%) completed the full educational program. ECMO staff skills improved from a median pre-test score of 7.5/18 (IQR = 6–11) to 14/18 (IQR = 14–16) at post-test (P < 0.001, Wilcoxon rank test). All trainees highly rated the educational program and its impact on their practice. They reported high-fidelity simulations to be beneficial to novice learners as it increased self-confidence in ECMO-emergencies (according to 100% of surveyed), theoretical knowledge (61.5%) and team-work/communicative skills (58%).Conclusions: The multistep ECMO team training increased staff' knowledge, technical skills, teamwork, and self-confidence, allowing the successful development of a neonatal respiratory ECMO program. Conventional training was perceived as relevant in the early phase of the program development, while the active learning emerged to be more beneficial to master ECMO knowledge, specific skills, and team performance.

Development of regional extracorporeal life support system: The importance of innovative simulation training

BackgroundDespite advances in mechanical ventilation, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates ranging from 30% to 60%. Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) can be used as a “bridge to recovery”. ECMO is a complex network that provides oxygenation and ventilation and allows the lungs to rest and recover from respiratory failure, while minimizing iatrogenic ventilator-induced lung injury. In the critical care settings, ECMO is shown to improve survival rates and outcomes in patients with severe ARDS. The primary objective was to present an innovative approach for using high-fidelity medical simulation before setting ECMO program for reversible respiratory failure (RRF) in Poland's first unique regional program “ECMO for Greater Poland”, covering a total population of 3.5 million inhabitants in the Greater Poland region (Wielkopolska). Aim and methodsBecause this organizational model is complex and expensive, we use advanced high-fidelity medical simulation to prepare for the real-life implementation. The algorithm was proposed for respiratory treatment by veno-venous (VV) Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). The scenario includes all critical stages: hospital identification (Regional Department of Intensive Care) - inclusion and exclusion criteria matching using an authorship protocol; ECMO team transport; therapy confirmation; veno-venous cannulation of mannequin's artificial vessels and implementation of perfusion therapy and transport with ECMO to another hospital in a provincial city (Clinical Department of Intensive Care), where the VV ECMO therapy was performed in the next 48 h, as training platform. ResultsThe total time, by definition, means the time from the first contact with the mannequin to the cannulation of artificial vessels and starting VV perfusion on ECMO, did not exceed 3 h – including 75 min of transport (the total time of simulation with first call from provincial hospital to admission to the Clinical Intensive Care department was 5 h). The next 48 h for perfusion simulation “in situ” generated a specific learning platform for intensive care personnel. Shortly after this simulation, we performed, the first in the region: ECMO used for RRF treatment. The transport was successful and exceeded 120 km. During first year of Program duration we performed 6 successful ECMO transports (5 adult and 1 paediatric) with 60% of adult patient survival of ECMO therapies. Three patients in good condition were discharged to home. Two years old patient was successfully disconnected from ECMO and in stabile condition is treated in Paediatric Department. ConclusionsWe discovered the important role of medical simulation, not only as an examination for testing the medical professional's skills, but also as a mechanism for creating non-existent procedures. During debriefing, it was found that the previous simulation-based training allowed to build a successful procedural chain, to eliminate errors at the stage of identification, notification, transportation and providing ECMO perfusion therapy.

Position paper for the organization of ECMO programs for cardiac failure in adults.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used increasingly for both respiratory and cardiac failure in adult patients. Indications for ECMO use in cardiac failure include severe refractory cardiogenic shock, refractory ventricular arrhythmia, active cardiopulmonary resuscitation for cardiac arrest, and acute or decompensated right heart failure. Evidence is emerging to guide the use of this therapy for some of these indications, but there remains a need for additional evidence to guide best practices. As a result, the use of ECMO may vary widely across centers. The purpose of this document is to highlight key aspects of care delivery, with the goal of codifying the current use of this rapidly growing technology. A major challenge in this field is the need to emergently deploy ECMO for cardiac failure, often with limited time to assess the appropriateness of patients for the intervention. For this reason, we advocate for a multidisciplinary team of experts to guide institutional use of this therapy and the care of patients receiving it. Rigorous patient selection and careful attention to potential complications are key factors in optimizing patient outcomes. Seamless patient transport and clearly defined pathways for transition of care to centers capable of providing heart replacement therapies (e.g., durable ventricular assist device or heart transplantation) are essential to providing the highest level of care for those patients stabilized by ECMO but unable to be weaned from the device. Ultimately, concentration of the most complex care at high-volume centers with advanced cardiac capabilities may be a way to significantly improve the care of this patient population.

Telemedicine in Pediatric Critical Care: A Retrospective Study in an International Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Program.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an invaluable rescue technique for critically ill children with imminent or present cardiopulmonary collapse. However, medical team expertise to optimize results and decrease complications is scarce. Telemedicine can be used to enhance the delivery of quality interventions. This is a retrospective review of pediatric patients assisted with ECMO in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) at Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia from July 2011 to June 2015 (telemedicine) compared with similar patients from a previous period (pretelemedicine). Collected information included demographic data, cardiac diagnosis, risk adjustment for congenital heart surgery (RACHS-1), hospital mortality, CICU and hospital length of stay (LOS), ECMO type, and ECMO run hours as well as specific telemedicine information. Fifty-seven patients in the pretelemedicine and 109 in the telemedicine periods were included in the analysis. Forty-nine teleconsulted patients received 218 teleconsultations, with a recommendation for diagnostic or interventional catheterization in 38 patients (77.5%). A surgical procedure for significant residual lesions was recommended in 30 patients (61.2%). Patients in the telemedicine period were older (4.7 months vs. 1.6 months, p = 0.006), more likely to receive operating room ECMO (43.1% vs. 24.6%, p = 0.02), and had a higher proportion of patients with two-ventricle physiology (73.4% vs. 54.4%, p = 0.013). Hospital survival was higher during the telemedicine period (54.1% vs. 29.8%, p = 0.002), with a longer hospital LOS (67 days vs. 28 days, p < 0.001). The implementation of telemedicine-assisted interventions in a pediatric ECMO program delivered valuable diagnostic and therapeutic advice, was associated with significant changes in selection criteria and model of care, and an increased hospital survival.

Management of Surge in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Transport

Transporting patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support is safe and reliable with a dedicated program and established management protocols. As our program has grown, our teams have had to adapt to manage surges in transport volume while maintaining patient safety. We assessed the outcomes at peak use of our ECMO transport services during surges. We conducted a single-center retrospective review of all patients transported to our institution while supported with ECMO from September 2008 to September 2016. Survival to discharge was the primary outcome. Surge patients were defined as those transported during months with at least 8 transports or patients transported within 24 hours of another patient in nonsurge months. From 2008 to 2016, 222 patients were transported to our institution while supported with ECMO. Baseline characteristics and indices of disease severity were comparable between surge and nonsurge patients. Of the 84 patients transported during surges, 59 surge patients (70%) survived to hospital discharge vs 86 (63%) of nonsurge patients (p= 0.31). Multivariable logistic regression showed that age and APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation) severity index score were predictors of in-hospital death (p < 0.05), but transportation during a surge was not (odds ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.46 to 1.80; p= 0.79). Patient safety and clinical outcomes can be maintained during surges in ECMO transport volume if the ECMO program has developed plans for handling transient increases in volume and considers staff fatigue and burnout. Standardizing interhospital communication, patient selection, and management protocols are critical to maintaining quality of care.

Sedation and Mobilization During Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Acute Respiratory Failure: An International Survey.

To characterize sedation, analgesia, delirium, and mobilization practices in patients supported with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe acute respiratory failure. Cross-sectional electronic survey administered January 2016 to March 2016. Three-hundred ninety-four extracorporeal membrane oxygenation centers registered with the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation medical directors and program coordinators. None. We analyzed responses from 209 respondents (53%), mostly from academic centers (63%); 41% respondents provide venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to adults exclusively. Following venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation initiation, 97% respondents administer sedative/analgesic infusions, and the sedation target was "sedated" or "very sedated" for 59%, "calm and cooperative" for 25%, and "unarousable" for 16%. Use of daily sedation interruption and a sedation/analgesia protocol was reported by 51% and 39%, respectively. Midazolam (48%) and propofol (19%) were reported as the most frequently used sedatives; fentanyl (44%) and morphine (20%) the most frequent opioids. Use of a delirium scale was reported by 55% respondents. Physical therapy was reported by 84% respondents, with 41% initiating it within 72 hours after cannulation. Mobilization goals varied from range of motion exercises (81%) to ambulation (22%). The most frequently perceived barriers to mobilization were hemodynamic instability, hypoxemia, and dependency on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. The majority of respondents reported targeting moderate to deep sedation following cannulation, with the use of sedative and opioid infusions. There is considerable variability surrounding early physical therapy and mobilization goals for patients with acute respiratory failure supported by venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Does a Mobile ECLS Program Reduce Mortality for Patients Transported for ECLS Therapy for Severe Acute Respiratory Failure?

To understand if mobile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation reduces patient mortality during and after transport of patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory distress syndrome. Retrospective chart review. University affiliated tertiary care hospitals. Seventy-seven patients. Introduction of a mobile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program designed to facilitate the implementation of ECMO at outside hospitals in patients too unstable for transport for ECMO. The 28-day in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the post-mobile group (12/51 [23.5%] v 12/24 [50%], adjusted risk difference: 28.6%, [95% CI 4.7-52.5, p = 0.011]). These findings suggest that patients with severe acute respiratory failure who require transport to a referral center for extracorporeal life support may benefit from the availability of a mobile extracorporeal life support team.

Revised protocol of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy in severe ARDS. Recommendations of the Veno-venous ECMO Expert Panel appointed in February 2016 by the national consultant on anesthesiology and intensive care.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) has become well established technique of the treatment of severe acute respiratory failure (Veno-Venous ECMO) or circulatory failure (Veno-Arterial ECMO) which enables effective blood oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal for several weeks. Veno-Venous ECMO (V-V ECMO ) is a lifesaving treatment of patients in whom severe ARDS makes artificial lung ventilation unlikely to provide satisfactory blood oxygenation for preventing further vital organs damage and progression to death. The protocol below regards exclusively veno-venous ECMO treatment as a support for blood gas conditioning by means of extracorporeal circuit in adult patients with severe ARDS. V-V ECMO does not provide treatment for acutely and severely diseased lungs, but it enables patient to survive the critical phase of severe ARDS until recovery of lung function. Besides avoiding patients death from hypoxemia, this technique can also prevent further progression of the lung damage due to artificial ventilation. Recent experience of ECMO treatment since the outbreak of AH1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009, along with technical progress and advancement in understanding pathophysiology of ventilator-induced lung injury, have contributed to significant improvement of the results of ECMO treatment. Putative factors related to increased survival include patients retrieval after connecting them to ECMO, and less intensive anticoagulation protocols. The aim of presenting this revised protocol was to improve the effects of ECMO treatment in patients with severe ARDS, to enhance ECMO accessibility for patients who might possibly benefit from this treatment, to reduce time until patient's connection to ECMO, and to avoid ECMO treatment in futile cases. The authors believe that this protocol, based on recent papers and their own experience, can provide help and advice both for the centers which develop V-V ECMO program, and for doctors who will refer their patients for the treatment in an ECMO center.

Review of 1,000 consecutive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation runs as a quality initiative

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a resource-intensive mode of life-support potentially applicable when conventional therapies fail. Given the initial success of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to support neonates and infants in the 1980s, indications have expanded to include adolescents, adults, and selected moribund patients during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This single-institution analysis was conducted to evaluate programmatic growth, outcomes, and risk for death despite extracorporeal membrane oxygenation across all ages and diseases. Beginning in 1989, we registered prospectively all extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patient data with the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. We queried this registry for our institution-specific data to compare the parameter of "discharge alive" between age groups (neonatal, pediatric, adult), disease groups (respiratory, cardiac, cardiopulmonary resuscitation), and modes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (veno-venous; veno-arterial). Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-specific complications (mechanical, hemorrhagic, neurologic, renal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, infectious, metabolic) were analyzed similarly. Descriptive statistics, Kaplan-Meier, and linear regression analyses were conducted. After 1,052 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation runs, indications have expanded to include adults, to supplement cardiopulmonary resuscitation, to support hemodialysis in neonates and plasmapheresis in children, and to bridge all age patients to heart and lung transplant. Overall survival to discharge was 52% and was better for respiratory diseases (P<.001). Probability of individual survival decreased to <50% if pre-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation mechanical ventilation exceeded respectively 123hours for cardiac, 166hours for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and 183hours for respiratory diseases (P=.013). Complications occurred most commonly among cardiac and cardiopulmonary resuscitation runs (P<.001), the veno-arterial mode (P<.001), and in adults (P=.044). Our extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program, an Extracorporeal Life Support Organization-designated Center of Excellence, has experienced substantial growth in volume and indications, including increasing age and disease severity. Considering the entire cohort, pre-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ventilation exceeding 7days was associated with an increased probability of death.