Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Burn Injury: A Multidisciplinary Roundtable

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used to successfully minimize, replace, or avoid the use of mechanical ventilation in burned and nonburned populations. Further research on ECMO in the burned population is warranted, particularly given the insufficient patient numbers reported in the literature. A panel composed of national leaders in ECMO and/or burn injury discussed the use of ECMO in patients with burn injuries as part of the MedStar Washington Hospital Center Burn Center Multidisciplinary Lecture Series. Panelists examined current methods, institutional practices, and clinical controversies around the use of ECMO in burns. While institutional capacity and protocols vary widely, the discussion highlighted the need for both retrospective and prospective data to establish guidelines to maximize the clinical benefits of ECMO in patients with burn injuries. Further multicenter investigation is needed to define patient selection criteria, timing, and perioperative management strategies such as anticoagulation in this patient population.