Five-year experience with mobile adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a tertiary referral center

Abstract Introduction Mobile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is reserved for critically unstable patients who may not otherwise survive transfer to the ECMO center. We describe our experience with mobile ECMO. Methods We retrospectively reviewed adult patients between 2010 and 2014 who we...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of critical care 2015-12, Vol.30 (6), p.1195-1198
Main Authors: Vaja, Ricky, BM, BMedSci, Chauhan, Ishaan, MBBS, BSc, MRCS, Joshi, Vijay, MBChB, MRCS, Salmasi, Yousuf, MBBS, BSc, MRCS, Porter, Richard, MBChB, FRCA, EDIC, FFICM, Faulkner, Gail, RGN, RSCN, Harvey, Chris, MBChB, MRCS
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Adults
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Critical Care
ECMO
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation - instrumentation
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation - methods
Extracorporeal membranous oxygenation
Female
Hospitals
Humans
Intensive care
Male
Middle Aged
Mobile
Patient Safety
Respiratory distress syndrome
Respiratory therapy
Retrospective Studies
Tertiary Care Centers
Transfer
Transportation of Patients
Treatment Outcome
Ventilation
Ventilators
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Introduction Mobile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is reserved for critically unstable patients who may not otherwise survive transfer to the ECMO center. We describe our experience with mobile ECMO. Methods We retrospectively reviewed adult patients between 2010 and 2014 who were referred for ECMO support and were too unwell for conventional transfer. They were cannulated at their referring center by our team and subsequently transported back to our hospital on ECMO. Results A total of 102 patients were put on ECMO by our team. Of 102 patients, 95 (93%) were managed by venovenous ECMO, and 7 (7%), by venoarterial ECMO. The average distance traveled was 195 miles (SD, ± 256.8; range, 3.6-980). Transportation was via road in 77 cases (77%), by air in 22 cases (22%), and in 3 cases (3%) a combination of road and air was used. A double-lumen Avalon cannula was used in 72 patients (70%). One patient had a ventricular tachycardia arrest during cannulation but was successfully resuscitated. There was no mortality or major complications during transfer. Conclusion The use of mobile ECMO in adult patients is a safe modality for transfer of critically unwell patients. We have safely used double-lumen cannulas in most of these patients.
ISSN:0883-9441
1557-8615
DOI:10.1016/j.jcrc.2015.07.032