Open AccessMobile Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Author(s) -
Antonio F. Corno,
Gail Faulkner,
Chris J. Harvey
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
asaio journal
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.961
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1538-943X
pISSN - 1058-2916
DOI - 10.1097/mat.0000000000001286
Subject(s) - extracorporeal membrane oxygenation , medicine , intensivist , emergency medicine , anesthesia , medical emergency , surgery , intensive care medicine , intensive care
To review our experience with mobile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Mobile ECMO team included: ECMO-trained surgeon and intensivist, specialist nurse, and perfusionist. Patients were cannulated for venous-arterial (V-A) or venous-venous (V-V) ECMO, depending on clinical indication. Mobile transfers were carried out utilizing a Levitronics Centrimag centrifugal pump and Hico Variotherm 555 heater cooler. From October 2009 to May 2019, 571 patients, 185 (32%) neonates, 95 (17%) pediatric, and 291 (51%) adults, underwent mobile ECMO transfer. Four hundred fifty-three (79%) transfers were completed by road, 76 (13%) by air, and 42 (8%) by road/air combination. Road was the travel mode of choice for journeys with expected duration up to 3 hours one way. Nevertheless, road transfers up to 6 hours duration were performed safely. Average duration of mobile ECMO transfer was 5.5 hours (2-18 hours). Two patients died before arrival of mobile ECMO team, four patients were cannulated during cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, and one of them died of uncontrollable hemorrhage in the right hemithorax. One patient had cardiac arrest after V-V cannulation and required conversion to V-A. Mobile ECMO is safe and reliable to transfer the sickest of patients. Fully trained team with all equipment and disposables is indispensable for reliable mobile ECMO service.