ECMO for Patients with 2009 H1N1 Influenza and ARDS

In a study from New Zealand and Australia, ECMO was used largely in young adults, most of whom had good outcomes.

Infection with the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with profound hypoxemia and hypercapnia requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used when mechanical ventilation is inadequate. These authors retrospectively determined characteristics and outcomes for all 201 patients who received mechanical ventilation for confirmed or suspected H1N1 disease–related ARDS at the 15 (of 187) intensive care units (ICUs) in Australia and New Zealand that provided ECMO between June 1 and August 31, 2009. Overall, 68 patients received ECMO.

Comparison of the 61 patients with confirmed influenza A (H1N1 or not subtyped) who received ECMO and …

Reviewing Author

John A. Marx, MD, FAAEM

ECMO for Patients with 2009 H1N1 Influenza and ARDS

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Reviewing Author