ABSTRACT
Rationale: The role of and needs for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) at a population level during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have not been completely established. Objectives: To identify the cumulative incidence of ECMO use in the first pandemic wave and to describe the Nationwide Chilean cohort of ECMO-supported patients with COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a population-based study from March 3 to August 31, 2020, using linked data from national agencies. The cumulative incidence of ECMO use and mortality risk of ECMO-supported patients were calculated and age standardized. In addition, a retrospective cohort analysis was performed. Outcomes were 90-day mortality after ECMO initiation, ECMO-associated complications, and hospital length of stay. Cox regression models were used to explore risk factors for mortality in a time-to-event analysis. Measurements and Main Results: Ninety-four patients with COVID-19 were supported with ECMO (0.42 per population of 100,000, 14.89 per 100,000 positive cases, and 1.2% of intubated patients with COVID-19); 85 were included in the cohort analysis, and the median age was 48 (interquartile range [IQR], 41-55) years, 83.5% were men, and 42.4% had obesity. The median number of pre-ECMO intubation days was 4 (IQR, 2-7), the median PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 86.8 (IQR, 64-99) mm Hg, 91.8% of patients were prone positioned, and 14 patients had refractory respiratory acidosis. Main complications were infections (70.6%), bleeding (38.8%), and thromboembolism (22.4%); 52 patients were discharged home, and 33 died. The hospital length of stay was a median of 50 (IQR, 24-69) days. Lower respiratory system compliance and higher driving pressure before ECMO initiation were associated with increased mortality. A duration of pre-ECMO intubation ≥10 days was not associated with mortality. Conclusions: Documenting nationwide ECMO needs may help in planning ECMO provision for future COVID-19 pandemic waves. The 90-day mortality of the Chilean cohort of ECMO-supported patients with COVID-19 (38.8%) is comparable to that of previous reports.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/therapy , Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation/statistics & numerical data , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/therapy , Adult , Aged , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19/epidemiology , Chile/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Incidence , Male , Middle Aged , Needs Assessment , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/diagnosis , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/epidemiology , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/virology , Retrospective Studies , Severity of Illness Index , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Osmotically active solutions, particularly mannitol, havebeen used for more than 30 years in the treatment ofintracranial hypertension. Recently hypertonic saline hasemerged as an alternative to mannitol. Both solutions areused worldwide, and their indications and long-term sideeffects are well known. More recently, knowledge abouttheir effects has increased, both limiting and expandingtheir clinical use. Here, we compare the systemic andcerebral effects of mannitol and hypertonic saline, as well astheir side effects and complications. Finally, we makerecommendations about their clinical use.
