[Design and application of a fixed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation neck catheter]

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) serves as an advanced extracorporeal life support modality capable of totally or partially substituting pulmonary gas exchange function. It is indicated for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bridging therapy prior to lung transplantation. Currently, the fixation of the internal jugular vein catheter for ECMO mainly relies on transparent dressings supplemented by secondary securing with ties. However, this method has drawbacks such as insecure fixation, susceptibility to catheter displacement, and the risk of inducing device related pressure injuries. To address the aforementioned issues, research team from the Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, developed a novel neck catheter fixation device for ECMO, which was granted a national utility model patent (Patent number: ZL 2021 2 1130686.8). The device consists of two main components: a head fixation strap and a catheter fixation device. The head immobilization strap comprises a frontoparietal strap, a circumferential fronto-occipital strap, and a mandibular strap. These components utilize Velcro to achieve three-dimensional force equilibrium, thereby preventing overall slippage. The tube fixation module consists of a fixation patch and an anti-slip silicone pad. By employing a hook and loop fastener in combination with the anti slip silicone pad and wrapping the catheter with a fold back locking strap, the device achieves effective fixation of the catheter. The catheter fixation unit is positioned posteroinferior to the auricle and is equipped with a dual-locking structure (U-shaped strap combined with an anti-slip silicone clip). This design allows bidirectional fixation of the catheter, helping to prevent catheter dislodgement, alleviate local skin compression, and reduce the risk of catheter related bloodstream infection. The device is easy to operate, can be repeatedly disinfected and reused, and demonstrates good clinical application prospects.