Inter-Hospital Awake Patient Transport on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Objectives: The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has become increasingly normal and treatment in high volume ECMO centers leads to improved patient outcome. Several case reports have described beneficial effects of awake va-ECMO therapy. In this paper, we discuss our experience with awake inter-hospital patient transport on ECMO support.

Methods: This retrospective study was done using medical records of all primary ECMO transports between January 2012 and December 2018. All patients >18 years were included. Awake transfer was defined when patients were spontaneously breathing and no sedation was given.

Result: During the study period a total of 228 patients were transferred to our institution on ECMO, 16 patients were awake during transport. Patients awake during transfer were 47.9 ± 15.8 years at the time of implantation. Va-ECMO was done in 10 patients (62.5%) and 6 patients (37.5%) with vv-ECMO. Patient transport was without complications. Weaning was possible in 4 patients (25.0%), one patient (6.3%) was transplanted and one patient (6.3%) was bridged to LVAD. Overall mortality was 62.5%.

Conclusion: Awake ECMO patient transfer is a feasible and safe therapeutic option.

Publication History

Article published online:
19 February 2021