Interhospital transport of ARDS patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Journal of Artificial Organs · 2018-08-18 · Observational study
Abstract
Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be a lifesaving therapy for patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ECMO is a technically complex and challenging procedure and should therefore only be performed in specialized centers. Transporting ARDS patients to ECMO centers for treatment can be dangerous because of the risk of hypoxemia during transport. This raises the question if ECMO should not be already initiated in the transferring hospital before transport. Over a 5-year period, we studied ARDS patients who had been transported to our department by our mobile ECMO team for further treatment after ECMO had already been initiated at the referring hospital. Data for analysis were obtained from our patient data management system (PDMS), the referral documents, and from the referring hospitals. Seventy-five patients meeting the selection criteria were studied. All had been successfully cannulated in the transferring hospitals. They were transported to our ECMO center by helicopter (n = 34) or mobile intensive care units (n = 41). No patient died during transport. Forty four of the patients were transported at night. Twenty-six patients (35%) died in our intensive care unit due to a therapy refractory course, comorbidities or limitation of therapy. Patients on ECMO therapy can be safely transferred to a specialist center. Setting up ECMO in an unfamiliar location and the subsequent patient transport can be very challenging and should only be performed by a highly trained, experienced team.
Abstract © the authors or publisher, via PubMed. Reuse and removal
Tags
Critical care & advanced paramedics · Helicopter & air ambulance · ECMO & mechanical circulatory support · Interfacility & critical care transport · Mortality & survival
Related articles
- Aeromedical transport of patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a 12-year experience from a regional mobile ECMO network in the French Caribbean. (Ann Intensive Care, 2026)
- Transfer of Veno-venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Patients With COVID-19 Associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. (ASAIO J, 2023)
- Helicopter inter-hospital transfer for patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a retrospective 12-year analysis of a service system. (Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med, 2022)
- Remote ECLS-Implantation and Transport for Retrieval of Cardiogenic Shock Patients. (Air Med J, 2017)
- The Stockholm experience: interhospital transports on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. (Crit Care, 2015)
- Referral and transportation for neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. (Eur J Emerg Med, 2002)