title: High survival in adult patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome treated by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, minimal sedation, and pressure supported ventilation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the results of treatment of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), minimal sedation, and pressure supported ventilation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study in a tertiary referral center, Intensive Care Unit, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital at Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen adult patients with ARDS were treated with venovenous or venoarterial ECMO after failure of conventional therapy. The Murray score of pulmonary injury averaged 3.5 (3.0-4.0) and the mean PaO2/FIO2 ratio was 46 (31-65). A standard ECMO circuit with nonheparinized surfaces was used. The patients were minimally sedated and received pressure-supported ventilation. High inspiratory pressures were avoided and arterial saturation as low as 70% was accepted on venovenous bypass.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In one patient a stable bypass could not be established. Among the remaining 16 patients 13 survived (total survival rate 76%) after 3-52 days (mean 15) on bypass. Major surgical procedures were performed in several patients. The cause of death in the three nonsurvivors was intracranial complications leading to total cerebral infarction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high survival rate can be obtained in adult patients with severe ARDS using ECMO and pressure-supported ventilation with minimal sedation. Surgical complications are amenable to surgical treatment during ECMO. Bleeding problems can generally be controlled but require immediate and aggressive approach. It is difficult or impossible to decide when a lung disease is irreversible, and prolonged ECMO treatment may be successful even in the absence of any detectable lung function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lindén
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Palmér
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reinhard
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Westman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ehrén
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Granholm
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frenckner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives