Totally Percutaneus Veno-Venous ECMO Therapy for COVID 19 Patients. Bridge to Recovery or Lung Transplantation?

ABSTRACT

Objective: Multiple major health organisations recommend the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for COVID-19-related acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure. Method(s) From march 2020 to november 2021 we done 108 veno-venous ECMO therapies. 35 patients required implantation immediately in intensive care unit in place of call by mobile ECMO team. Depend from distance of call it was used medical ambulance, rescue helicopter or medical plane. Result(s) In the first analyzed period (March-December 2020), 90-day mortality was 41%. 8 (7.6%) patients were discharged from the Intensive Care Unit. The remaining 3 (4.2%) were discharged home. 7 patients (6.6%) had both lung transplants. 7 patients (6.6%) required conversion to VV-A ECMO therapy due to the development of acute heart failure. Conclusion(s) In the analyzed period of March-December 2020, the mortality was 41%. As a result, the lower effect of regression of consolidation and inflammatory lesions of lung tissue indicates that ECMO therapy remains the treatment method in high-risk patients as a bridge therapy to lung transplantation.