Efficacy of Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Severe Acute Respiratory Failure

• Published in: Yonsei medical journal Vol. 56; no. 1; pp. 212 - 219
• Main Authors: Lee, Jae Jun, Hwang, Sung Mi, Ko, Jae Houn, Kim, Hyoung Soo, Hong, Kyung Soon, Choi, Hyun Hee, Lee, Myung Goo, Lee, Chang Youl, Lee, Won Ki, Soun, Eun Jin, Lee, Tae Hun, Seo, Jeong Yeol
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Yonsei University College of Medicine 01.01.2015; 연세대학교의과대학
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adult; Cause of Death; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Respiratory Insufficiency - complications; Respiratory Insufficiency - therapy; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome; 의학일반; survival rate; Acute respiratory failure; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; mechanical ventilation
• ISSN: 0513-5796; 1976-2437; 1976-2437
• DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2015.56.1.212

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). 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. 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. 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.