Versatile use of extra-corporeal life support to resuscitate acute respiratory distress patients

Extra-corporeal life support (ECLS) has been applied successfully to congenital respiratory defects but less optimally to acquired pulmonary failure. We extended this support to certain extreme complexities of patients with acute respiratory distress.

From January 2003 to June 2005, 16 (nine men and seven women) patients refractory to ventilator support were treated with ECLS. Their median age was 32.4 years (1.5–70). The triggering events were pulmonary haemorrhage (n = 4), pneumonia (n = 7), aspiration (n = 2) and pancreatitis (n = 3). The indications for support were hypoxaemia in 13 and hypercapnia in three patients.

Ten (63%) met the criteria of fast entry. Thirteen (81%) received veno-venous (V-V) mode support and the other three received veno-arterial mode support initially, but then converted to V-V mode after sufficient oxygenation stabilised haemodynamics. Initial pump flow was maximised to improve (mean 3250 ± 1615 ml/min) to improve the oxygenation. Four patients with active pulmonary haemorrhage were heparin free in the first 12–24 h of support without complications. Excluding one prematurely terminated patient because of brain permanent damage, the duration of support was 162 ± 95 h (67–363). Eleven (69%) weaned successfully from ECLS and 10 (63%) discharged and regained normal pulmonary performance in a median of 26.8 months follow-up.

Pulmonary support using ECLS was feasible in selected patients with acute respiratory distress. Modification of guidelines for liberal use, early deployment before secondary organ damage and prevention of complications during support were the key to final success.