ABSTRACT
Objectives: The objetive of this study is to describe the cases trasferred to an ECMO referral;s centre (Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid (Spain)), to investigate characteristics before ECMO and while the patient was on ECMO, to analyse the presence or not of complications secondary to transfer and cannulation and finally to analyse the ICU outcome. Method(s): This is a Prospective study done from November 1st, 2020 to December 31st, 2022. The cases were accepted either for emergency ECMO cannulation in the hospital of origin and retrieval or for conventional transfer. We analysed basic decriptive variables such as male proportion, age, IMC and etiology of ARDS and variables before ECMO such as prone position, duration of non-invasive ventilation, invasive ventilation and ICU leght of stay before ECMO. We recorded ELSO, SOFA and APACHE Severity Scores. We also analysed several variables on ECMO: if prone position on ECMO was done, median days of ECMO and succesfull weaning from ECMO. We also recorded whether there were complications or not in the transfer and cannulation. Finally ICU survival was examined. Result(s): 31 cases were accepted. 22 (71 %) were male. 29 cases were accepted for emergency ECMO cannulation. Median age was 47 years and IMC 31.1. The etiology of SDRA was COVID 19 infection in 23 cases (74% cases). Lenght of non invasive and invasive ventilation before ECMO were 4 days and 3 days respectively and lenght of ICU admission before ECMO was 2 days. Prone position was 1 day and 2 prone sessions were done before ECMO. Severity scores: APACHE 10 , SOFA 4 , ELSO 3 . On ECMO Prone position was done on 15 cases(48.4%) . Median days on ECMO were 13.5 days. Succesfull weaning from ECMO were achieved on 20 cases(61%), 2 cases remain on ECMO. No complications were seen on transfer or cannulation. ICU Survivors were 16(51.6%). Conclusion(s): After 2 years of experience on ECMO retrieval in the region of Madrid ECMO availability was achieved. Our results are similar than ELSO mortality.