Introduction: Primarily, this study aimed to investigate the effect of TPE (therapeutic plasma exchange) treatment on successful ECMO weaning in severe COVID-19 ARDS patients treated with V-V ECMO.
Methods: The study was applied retrospectively on patients over the age of 18 who were hospitalized in the ICU between January 1, 2020 and March 1, 2022.
Results: The study was performed on 33 patients, 36.3% (n: 12) of whom received TPE treatment. The rate of successful ECMO weaning was statistically higher in the TPE treatment group (without TPE: 14.3% [n: 3], with TPE: 50% [n: 6], p = 0.044). The 1-month mortality was also statistically lower in the TPE treatment group (p = 0.044). In the logistic analysis, It was found that the risk of unsuccessful ECMO weaning increased 6 times in those who did not receive TPE treatment (OR; 6.0, 95% CI; 1.134-31.735, p = 0.035).
Conclusion: TPE treatment may increase the success rate of V-V ECMO weaning in severe COVID-19 ARDS patients treated with V-V ECMO.
Keywords: COVID-19; ECMO; plasma; therapeutic; weaning.
© 2023 International Society for Apheresis and Japanese Society for Apheresis.