Transport While on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support

Kyle C Niziolek; Thomas J Preston; Erik C Osborn

doi:10.1016/j.ccc.2017.06.009

Transport While on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support

Crit Care Clin. 2017 Oct;33(4):883-896. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2017.06.009.

Authors

Kyle C Niziolek¹, Thomas J Preston², Erik C Osborn³

Affiliations

¹ Critical Care Medicine, Cooper University Hospital, One Cooper Plaza, D427C, Camden, NJ 08103, USA. Electronic address: niziolek-kyle@cooperhealth.edu.
² Innovative ECMO Concepts, Inc, 13181 Waterrock Lane, Arcadia, OK 73007, USA.
³ Pulmonary Critical Care Sleep Medicine, Fort Belvoir Army Hospital, 9300 DeWitt Loop, FT Belvoir, VA 22060, USA; Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.

PMID: 28887934
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccc.2017.06.009

Abstract

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for severe acute respiratory failure has been increasing. Evidence suggests that higher volume centers have better outcomes, leading to a need for specialized ECMO transport teams. The inherent nature of the prehospital environment adds an additional layer of complexity; however, the experience of multiple centers has demonstrated that cannulating and transporting a patient on ECMO can be performed safely. The purpose of this review article is to discuss the state of knowledge with respect to ECMO transport with special emphasis given to how to actually undertake such complex transports.

Keywords: Critical care transport; Extracorporeal life support (ECLS); Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO); Medical evacuation; Pre-hospital.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / methods*
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Respiratory Distress Syndrome / therapy*
Transportation of Patients / methods*