Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Mouse
Published on: October 24, 2018
Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure: A multicenter
Navin G Vigneshwar1, Muhammad F Masood2, Ivana Vasic3
1Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colo.
Objective:
The COVID-19 pandemic presents a high mortality rate amongst patients who develop severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) in COVID-19-related ARDS and identify the patients who benefit the most from this procedure.
Methods:
Adult patients with COVID-19 and severe ARDS requiring VV-ECMO support at 4 academic institutions between March and October 2020 were included. Data were collected through retrospective chart reviews. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed with the primary outcome of in-hospital mortality.
Results:
Fifty-one consecutive patients underwent VV-ECMO with a mean age of 50.4 years; 64.7% were men. Survival to hospital discharge was 62.8%. Median intensive care unit and hospitalization duration were 27.4 days (interquartile range [IQR], 17-37 days) and 34.5 days (IQR, 23-43 days), respectively. Survivors and nonsurvivors had a median ECMO cannulation time of 11 days (IQR, 8-18) and 17 days (IQR, 12-25 days). The average postdecannulation length of stay was 17.5 days (IQR, 12.4-25 days) for survivors and 0 days for nonsurvivors (IQR, 0-6 days). Only 1 nonsurvivor was able to be decannulated. Clinical characteristics associated with mortality between nonsurviors and survivors included increasing age (P = .0048), hemorrhagic stroke (P = .0014), and postoperative dialysis (P = .0013) were associated with mortality in a bivariate model and retained statistical significance in a multivariable model.
Conclusions:
This multicenter study confirms the effectiveness of VV-ECMO in selected critically ill patients with COVID-19-related severe ARDS. The survival of these patients is comparable to non-COVID-19-related ARDS.
More Related Videos
07:41Insertion, Maintenance, and Removal of the Percutaneous Dual Lumen Cannula Right Ventricular Assist Device
Published on: July 20, 2022
03:40Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Peripheral Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Without Left Ventricular Venting
Published on: January 17, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Oxygen Therapy for Respiratory Failure
Oxygen therapy is vital in increasing and maintaining blood oxygen levels in PAH patients. As a result, it aids in reducing fatigue, improving...
Acute Respiratory Failure-I
Definition: It is defined by specific criteria based on blood gas measurements. Hypoxemia happens when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) falls below 60 mmHg. At the same time,...
Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
Acute Respiratory Failure-III
Acute Respiratory Failure-IV
Acute Respiratory Failure-V
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...