Tuberc Respir Dis.  2012 Jan;72(1):1-7.

The Treatment of Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Using Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

• Kim GW
• Choi EY
• Hong SB

Abstract

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support to tissue oxygenation has been shown to improve survival in patients with life threatening respiratory distress syndrome or cardiac failure. Extracorporeal life support such as ECMO, including extracorporeal CO2 removal (ECCO2R), is used as temporary support until successful recovery of organs. A recently published multicentre randomized controlled trial, known as the CESAR (conventional ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe adult respiratory failure) trial, was the first trial to demonstrate the utility of ECMO in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). During the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, there were many reports of patients with severe ARDS related to H1N1 infection treated with ECMO. These reports revealed a high survival rate and effectiveness of ECMO. In this review, we explain the indication of ECMO clinical application, the practical types of ECMO, and complications associated with ECMO. In addition, we explain recent new ECMO technology and management of patients during ECMO support.

Keyword

Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; Extracorporeal Circulation; Intensive Care Unit

MeSH Terms

Adult
Extracorporeal Circulation
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Heart Failure
Humans
Influenza, Human
Intensive Care Units
Oxygen
Pandemics
Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult
Survival Rate
Ventilation
Oxygen

Figure

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  Figure 1 (A) Recirculation phenomenon. (B) Dual-lumen cannula. This figure was reprinted from NEJM 2011:365:1905-14.

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