Does a Mobile ECLS Program Reduce Mortality for Patients Transported for ECLS Therapy for Severe Acute Respiratory Failure?

OBJECTIVE

To understand if mobile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation reduces patient mortality during and after transport of patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory distress syndrome.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTING

University affiliated tertiary care hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

Seventy-seven patients.

INTERVENTIONS: Introduction of a mobile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program designed to facilitate the implementation of ECMO at outside hospitals in patients too unstable for transport for ECMO.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

RESULTS

The 28-day in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the post-mobile group (12/51 [23.5%] v 12/24 [50%], adjusted risk difference: 28.6%, [95% CI 4.7-52.5, p = 0.011]).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that patients with severe acute respiratory failure who require transport to a referral center for extracorporeal life support may benefit from the availability of a mobile extracorporeal life support team.