Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): Can we do it ourselves?

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Respiratory Medicine
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-support technology typically reserved for specialized, large healthcare centers.
• The accessibility of ECMO has been a significant barrier to its widespread application, particularly in medium-sized healthcare systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and quality of care when implementing venovenous ECMO for COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in a medium-sized healthcare setting.
• To demonstrate that ECMO can be a broadly available therapeutic option.

Main Methods:

• A single-center experience utilizing venovenous ECMO for patients with COVID-19 ARDS.
• Analysis of patient outcomes and quality of care metrics within a medium-size healthcare system during the pandemic.

Main Results:

• The study demonstrated successful implementation of ECMO in a medium-sized healthcare system.
• The use of ECMO did not compromise the quality of patient care for COVID-19 ARDS.

Conclusions:

• ECMO can be effectively deployed in medium-sized healthcare systems, expanding its availability.
• This approach offers a viable option for managing severe respiratory failure, such as that seen in COVID-19 ARDS, beyond large referral centers.