Successful Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Implementation at a Non-tertiary Medical Center: A Single-Center Experience.

The inexperience and limited resources at non-tertiary medical centers pose unique challenges to the successful development of an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program. The current literature does not provide a detailed framework that addresses the unique challenges encountered at these facilities. We outline a proactive approach to developing an ECMO program and provide a retrospective analysis of patient demographics, clinical characteristics, ECMO configuration, duration of ECMO support, major adverse events, and survival to hospital discharge. Data are summarized using mean, median, percentages, standard deviation, and interquartile range. Eleven patients were cannulated between December 2021 to March 2023. The age range of the patients who received ECMO varied significantly, with the youngest being 25 years old and the oldest being 69 years old. The mean age was 38 years old, with a standard deviation of 15.9. Hypertension was the most common co-morbid condition occurring in 64% (n=7) of patients. Only one patient had a major adverse event, and survival to hospital discharge was 73% (n=8). Of the patients that survived hospital discharge, seven patients were discharged home and one to a rehabilitation facility. These findings suggest that the safe implementation of an ECMO program at a non-tertiary hospital with inexperienced staff and limited resources is feasible. Adherence to established guidelines is essential for new programs, especially with regard to patient selection. Furthermore, a proactive approach that emphasizes high-yield training techniques, patient management protocols, and strategies that mitigate adverse events may be the key to achieving survival rates that exceed those of larger academic hospitals.

"Pushing Geographic Boundaries: Interfacility transport and remote extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation of patients during COVID-19 pandemic".

Amidst the pandemic, geographical boundaries presented challenges to those in need of higher levels of care from referral centers. Authors sought to evaluate potential predictors of treatment success; assess our transport and remote cannulation process; and identify transport associated complications.Retrospective series of critically ill adults with COVID-19 transferred by our Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) team 24 March 2020 through 8 June 2021. Descriptive statistics and associated interquartile ranges (IQR) were used to summarize the data.Sixty-three patients with COVID associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring ECMO support were admitted to our ECMO center. Mean age was 44 years old (SD 12; IQR 36-56). 59% (n = 37) of patients were male. Average body mass index was 39.7 (SD 11.3; IQR 31-48.5). Majority of patients (77.8%; n = 35) had severe ARDS. Predictors of treatment success were not observed.Transport distances ranged from 2.2 to 236 miles (median 22.5 miles; IQR 8.3-79); round trip times from 18 to 476 min (median 83 min; IQR 44-194). No transport associated complications occurred. Median duration of ECMO support was 17 days (IQR 9.5-34.5). Length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit (median 36 days; IQR 17-49) and hospital (median 39 days; IQR 25-57) varied. Amongst those discharged, 60% survived.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Amniotic Fluid Embolism-Induced Cardiac Arrest in the First Trimester of Pregnancy: A Case Report.

Amniotic fluid embolism is a rare obstetric emergency that can be accompanied by profound hypoxemia, coagulopathy, hemorrhage, and cardiogenic shock. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may provide a rescue strategy in amniotic fluid embolism with cardiopulmonary collapse. Approaches to anticoagulation must be balanced against the risk of hemorrhage with concomitant coagulopathy. Although extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has been described for cardiopulmonary collapse in the setting of amniotic fluid embolism, its initiation as a bridge to hemostasis and cardiopulmonary recovery in amniotic fluid embolism-induced hemorrhagic and cardiogenic shock remains a novel resuscitation strategy. DESIGN SUBJECT AND INTERVENTION: We present a case detailing the initiation of extracorporeal life support with veno-arterio-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a patient with hemorrhagic shock and cardiopulmonary failure due to amniotic fluid embolism. The patient was ultimately discharged home 19 days after presentation free from neurologic or other significant disability. MAIN RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Through this case, we describe a tailored approach to extracorporeal life support initiation and advanced extracorporeal membrane oxygenation management as a bridge to recovery in patients with mixed shock. Additionally, we discuss how the culmination of prehospital, outpatient and inpatient provider teamwork, easily portable extracorporeal membrane oxygenation equipment, and multispecialty collaboration can afford promising therapeutic options for patients who were previously deemed ineligible for extracorporeal life support.