Current and future status of extracorporeal life support for respiratory failure in adults

Curr Opin Crit Care. 2016 Feb;22(1):80-5. doi: 10.1097/MCC.0000000000000274.

Abstract

Purpose of review: The purpose is to review the development and current application of extracorporeal life support [ECLS, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)] in acute severe respiratory failure.

Recent findings: Extracorporeal support (ECMO) is used for acute severe respiratory failure in advanced ICUs. The current survival rate is 60-70%. Three controlled trials all demonstrated 20-30% improvement in survival compared to conventional care. Patients may now be maintained awake and ambulatory with spontaneous breathing.

Summary: ECMO is the next step in the algorithm for management of severe respiratory failure unresponsive to conventional care.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Cause of Death*
  • Critical Care / methods
  • Disease Progression
  • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / methods*
  • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / mortality
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Respiration, Artificial / methods
  • Respiration, Artificial / mortality
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / diagnosis*
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / mortality
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / therapy*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome