Effect of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation transport on short- and long-term survival in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Desiree A Steimer; Omar Hernandez; Gerald Ogola; David P Mason; Gary S Schwartz

doi:10.1080/08998280.2019.1669120

Effect of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation transport on short- and long-term survival in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2019 Oct 25;33(1):5-9. doi: 10.1080/08998280.2019.1669120. eCollection 2020 Jan.

Authors

Desiree A Steimer¹, Omar Hernandez², Gerald Ogola³, David P Mason⁴, Gary S Schwartz⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Thoracic Surgery, Brigham and Women's HospitalBostonMassachusetts.
² Department of Perfusion Services, Baylor University Medical CenterDallasTexas.
³ Center for Clinical Effectiveness, Baylor University Medical CenterDallasTexas.
⁴ Department of Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplantation, Baylor University Medical CenterDallasTexas.

Abstract

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has emerged as an important tool in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The creation of portable ECMO circuits and pumps has supported the development of interfacility ECMO programs. Prior studies have demonstrated that ECMO transport is safe; however, long-term outcomes for these patients remain unknown. Retrospective analysis of our 5-year experience identified 58 patients transported on ECMO and 82 patients cannulated at our institution. When short-term (30 days) and long-term (1 year) outcomes were compared between these cohorts, there was no statistically significant difference in survival (P = 0.44 and 0.49). There were no deaths related to transport, and the rate of ECMO-related complications was similar between the groups. With established patient safety and similar long-term survival, ECMO transport is a feasible solution to provide access to ECMO for all communities.

Keywords: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; ECMO outcomes; ECMO transport; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.