Some H1N1 Patients with Respiratory Failure Benefit from ECMO

Hospital mortality was lower among patients referred to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation centers.

The 2009–2010 H1N1 influenza epidemic was notable for its high incidence of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), particularly in younger patients. Use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for treating such patients rose globally during the epidemic and was associated with lower flu-related mortality in some studies. To examine this association further, the authors compared 80 ARDS patients referred to one of four ECMO centers in the U.K. during winter 2009–2010 with matched controls who received standard treatment.

Eighty-six percent of ECMO-referred patients received ECMO. The referred patients were younger, were more likely to be pregnant, and had worse physiologic parameters than non-ECMO–referred patients. With eac…

Reviewing Author

Patricia Kritek, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsATS Scholar

Patricia Kritek, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsATS Scholar

Some H1N1 Patients with Respiratory Failure Benefit from ECMO

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Reviewing Author