Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for COVID-19 patients

During the current outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support could be considered as rescue treatment from life threatening condition among severe COVID-19 patients who did not respond to mechanical ventilation. We propose that veno-venous ECMO should if patient has persistence PaO2:FiO2 ratio lower than 100 mmHg after appropriate ventilator adjustment, muscle relaxant and prone position. support, against cytokine storm, including non-selective immune suppression with systemic steroid, or selective interleukin-6 inhibition Janus Kinase considered. Heparin infusion is still recommended anticoagulant maintain activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) range 1.5-2.0. The overall hospital mortality was comparable respiratory failure patients, requiring other causes, which reported about 37-50%. decision initiate depended on individual capacity availability.