Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a hope for the sickest patients with covid-19

SESSION TITLE: ECMO and ARDS in COVID-19 InfectionsSESSION TYPE: Rapid Fire Original InvPRESENTED ON: 10/17/2022 12:15 pm - 1:15 pmPURPOSE: The role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is evolving. Data from different waves of the pandemic has shown that mortality of COVID-19 patients treated with ECMO ranges from 40-94%. Pre-COVID studies have shown that ECMO is associated with bleeding in 30-50% of patients, thrombotic complications in about 10% and secondary infections in 40% of patients. However, there is a paucity of data regarding complications with the use of ECMO in COVID-19 patients. In this study, we describe the hospital course and complications seen in the COVID-19 patients admitted to our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) treated with ECMO.METHODS: Retrospective cohort analysis of adult patients with COVID-19 related ARDS admitted to the ICUs of a quaternary care hospital between 03/01/2020 and 03/31/2022 who were managed with ECMO.RESULTS: Of the 36 COVID-19 patients treated with ECMO, 23 (64%) patients were male. Median age was 48 years (IQR 36-59). Patients had a mean BMI of 36 ± 12. Median Charlson Comorbidity Index (assesses comorbidities) was 1 (0-2) and median APACHE-IV score (assesses severity of illness at the time of ICU admission) was 60 (51-72). Prior to initiation of ECMO, 14 (39%) patients were proned and 29 (81%) patients received a trial of neuromuscular blockade. Patients had high plateau pressures (mean 31 ± 8 cm H20) with pO2/FiO2 ratios consistent with severe ARDS (mean 63 ± 17) at the time of ECMO cannulation. Mean Respiratory ECMO Survival Prediction (RESP) score was 2.1 ± 3.3. The most common complications were bleeding requiring transfusion seen in 94% of patients and positive sterile fluid cultures (53% patients). Hemorrhagic stroke was seen in 3 patients (8%). None of the patients had limb ischemia or clotting of the cannula requiring catheter exchange. Withdrawal of care occurred in 3 patients (8%). 13 (35%) patients were successfully decannulated from ECMO; however only 12 (33%) patients were discharged alive.CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows a survival rate in COVID-19 patients treated with ECMO that is comparable to previously reported studies. High bleeding and infection rates can possibly be explained by steroid use and COVID-19 disease specific characteristics.CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our study describes the hospital course of the COVID-19 patients treated with ECMO and can be used to evaluate it's role in the management of severe COVID-19 patients refractory to conventional ventilatory management.DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by ALEENA ARSHADNo relevant relationships by Dipak ChandyNo relevant relationships by Oleg EpelbaumNo relevant relationships by Daniel GreenbergNo relevant relationships by Theresa HensonNo relevant relationships by Lawrence HuangNo relevant relationships by Daniel PeneyraNo relevant relationships by Areen PitaktongNo relevant relationships by Hamid Yaqoob SESSION TITLE: ECMO and ARDS in COVID-19 Infections SESSION TYPE: Rapid Fire Original Inv PRESENTED ON: 10/17/2022 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm PURPOSE: The role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is evolving. Data from different waves of the pandemic has shown that mortality of COVID-19 patients treated with ECMO ranges from 40-94%. Pre-COVID studies have shown that ECMO is associated with bleeding in 30-50% of patients, thrombotic complications in about 10% and secondary infections in 40% of patients. However, there is a paucity of data regarding complications with the use of ECMO in COVID-19 patients. In this study, we describe the hospital course and complications seen in the COVID-19 patients admitted to our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) treated with ECMO. METHODS: Retrospective cohort analysis of adult patients with COVID-19 related ARDS admitted to the ICUs of a quaternary care hospital between 03/01/2020 and 03/31/2022 who were managed with ECMO. RESULTS: Of the 36 COVID-19 patients treated with ECMO, 23 (64%) patients were male. Median age was 48 years (IQR 36-59). Patients had a mean BMI of 36 ± 12. Median Charlson Comorbidity Index (assesses comorbidities) was 1 (0-2) and median APACHE-IV score (assesses severity of illness at the time of ICU admission) was 60 (51-72). Prior to initiation of ECMO, 14 (39%) patients were proned and 29 (81%) patients received a trial of neuromuscular blockade. Patients had high plateau pressures (mean 31 ± 8 cm H20) with pO2/FiO2 ratios consistent with severe ARDS (mean 63 ± 17) at the time of ECMO cannulation. Mean Respiratory ECMO Survival Prediction (RESP) score was 2.1 ± 3.3. The most common complications were bleeding requiring transfusion seen in 94% of patients and positive sterile fluid cultures (53% patients). Hemorrhagic stroke was seen in 3 patients (8%). None of the patients had limb ischemia or clotting of the cannula requiring catheter exchange. Withdrawal of care occurred in 3 patients (8%). 13 (35%) patients were successfully decannulated from ECMO; however only 12 (33%) patients were discharged alive. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows a survival rate in COVID-19 patients treated with ECMO that is comparable to previously reported studies. High bleeding and infection rates can possibly be explained by steroid use and COVID-19 disease specific characteristics. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our study describes the hospital course of the COVID-19 patients treated with ECMO and can be used to evaluate it's role in the management of severe COVID-19 patients refractory to conventional ventilatory management. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by ALEENA ARSHAD No relevant relationships by Dipak Chandy No relevant relationships by Oleg Epelbaum No relevant relationships by Daniel Greenberg No relevant relationships by Theresa Henson No relevant relationships by Lawrence Huang No relevant relationships by Daniel Peneyra No relevant relationships by Areen Pitaktong No relevant relationships by Hamid Yaqoob