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INTRODUCTION: Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) is recommended for the support of patients with severe COVID-19 associated severe respiratory failure (SRF). We report the characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 patients supported with V-V ECMO in a Hungarian centre. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data on all patients admitted with proven SARS CoV-2 infection who received V-V ECMO support between March 2021 and May 2022. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were placed on ECMO during this period, (5 women, age (mean ± SD) 44 ± 10 years, APACHE II score (median (interquartile range)) 12 (10-14.5)). Before ECMO support, they had been hospitalised for 6 (4-11) days. Fifteen patients received noninvasive ventilation for 4 (2-8) days, two patients had high flow nasal oxygen therapy, for one day each. They had already been intubated for 2.5 (1-6) days. Prone position was applied in 15 cases. On the day before ECMO initiation the Lung Injury Score was 3.25 (3-3.26), the PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 71 ± 19 mmHg. The duration of V-V ECMO support was 26 ± 20 days, and the longest run lasted 70 days. Patients were mechanically ventilated for 34 ± 23 days. The intensive care unit (ICU) and the hospital length of stay were 40 ± 28 days and 45 ± 31 days, respectively. Eleven patients were successfully weaned from ECMO. The ICU survival rate was 56%, the in-hospital survival was 50%. All patients who were discharged from hospital reported a good health-related quality of life Rankin score (0-2) at the 5-16 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: During the last three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, we achieved a 56% ICU and a 50% hospital survival rate at our low volume centre.
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Background: Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may require veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO). While V-V ECMO is offered in severe lung injury to COVID-19, long-term respiratory follow-up in these patients is missing. Therefore, we aimed at providing comprehensive data on the long-term respiratory effects of COVID-19 requiring V-V ECMO support during the acute phase of infection. Methods: In prospective observational cohort study design, patients with severe COVID-19 receiving invasive mechanical ventilation and V-V ECMO (COVID group, n = 9) and healthy matched controls (n = 9) were evaluated 6 months after hospital discharge. Respiratory system resistance at 5 and 19 Hz (R5, R19), and the area under the reactance curve (AX5) was evaluated using oscillometry characterizing total and central airway resistances, and tissue elasticity, respectively. R5 and R19 difference (R5-R19) reflecting small airway function was also calculated. Forced expired volume in seconds (FEV1), forced expiratory vital capacity (FVC), functional residual capacity (FRC), carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO) and transfer coefficient (KCO) were measured. Results: The COVID group had a higher AX5 and R5-R19 than the healthy matched control group. However, there was no significant difference in terms of R5 or R19. The COVID group had a lower FEV1 and FVC on spirometry than the healthy matched control group. Further, the COVID group had a lower FRC on plethysmography than the healthy matched control group. Meanwhile, the COVID group had a lower DLCO than healthy matched control group. Nevertheless, its KCO was within the normal range. Conclusion: Severe acute COVID-19 requiring V-V ECMO persistently impairs small airway function and reduces respiratory tissue elasticity, primarily attributed to lung restriction. These findings also suggest that even severe pulmonary pathologies of acute COVID-19 can manifest in a moderate but still persistent lung function impairment 6 months after hospital discharge. Trial registration: NCT05812196.
