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. 2015 Jan;56(1):212-9.
doi: 10.3349/ymj.2015.56.1.212.

Efficacy of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in severe acute respiratory failure

Jae Jun Lee  1 , Sung Mi Hwang  1 , Jae Houn Ko  1 , Hyoung Soo Kim  2 , Kyung Soon Hong  3 , Hyun Hee Choi  3 , Myung Goo Lee  4 , Chang Youl Lee  4 , Won Ki Lee  5 , Eun Jin Soun  6 , Tae Hun Lee  6 , Jeong Yeol Seo  6
Affiliations

Efficacy of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in severe acute respiratory failure

Jae Jun Lee et al. Yonsei Med J. 2015 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate our institutional experience with veno-venous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients with severe acute respiratory failure (ARF).

Materials and methods: From January 2007 to August 2013, 31 patients with severe ARF that was due to various causes and refractory to mechanical ventilation with conventional therapy were supported with VV ECMO. A partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO₂)/inspired fraction of oxygen (FiO₂) <100 mm Hg at an FiO₂ of 1.0 or a pH <7.25 due to CO₂ retention were set as criteria for VV ECMO.

Results: Overall, 68% of patients survived among those who had received VV ECMO with a mean PaO₂/FiO₂ of 56.8 mm Hg. Furthermore, in trauma patients, early use of ECMO had the best outcome with a 94% survival rate.

Conclusion: VV ECMO is an excellent, life-saving treatment option in patients suffering from acute and life-threatening respiratory failure due to various causes, especially trauma, and early use of VV ECMO therapy improved outcomes in these patients.

Keywords: Acute respiratory failure; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; mechanical ventilation; survival rate.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Causes of acute respiratory failure. ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; VA, venoarterial; ICH, Intracerebral hemorrhage.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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