Extra-corporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Single Center Experience

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high morbidity and mortality rate. We report our treatment results with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe ARDS patients. Patients and Methods: From December 2001 through July 2005, there were 10 patients receiving treatment of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for ARDS and/or septic shock in our hospital. There were six male and four female patients. The median age at the time of ECMO support was 4.3 years old (range: 2.1-71). Venoarterial-ECMO was used for the patients with severe desaturation and persistent hypotension, and venovenousECMO was used for the patients with severe desaturation but preserved cardiac function. Results: Five patients (50%) survived the ECMO. The ECMO survival rate was 20% (1/5) between 2001 and 2002, and was 80% (4/5) between 2003 and 2005. The median ECMO supporting time was 89 hours. The cause of mortality was hypoxic encephalopathy in 2 patients, intra-cranial hemorrhage in 1 patient, deteriorated pulmonary function in 1 patient and uncontrolled sepsis in 1 patient. All the survived patients were discharged from the hospital. Conclusion: ECMO can rescue more patients with severe ARDS, even in the condition of septic shock. Improved results were reported in the literature, and our series also shows similar trend. For those patients with severe ARDS whose conditions cannot be improved or even deteriorate under conventional therapy, ECMO can provide a chance of survival.