title: The effect of an improvement of experience and training in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation management on clinical outcomes.
abstract: The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is spreading rapidly, with successful procedures reported in the ECMO for Severe Adult Respiratory failure (CESAR) trial and treatment of the H1N1 pandemic. However, ECMO is associated with a high mortality rate. This study aimed to show that increased experience and improved teamwork through education may reduce the mortality rate associated with ECMO.
  
  
  
  A retrospective study was performed. Data were collected from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2011. The data were divided into two periods: 2009/2010 (period 1) and 2011 (period 2). The protocol and training program were applied during period 2.
  
  
  
  Seventy-six patients were included. The most common disease requiring ECMO support was pneumonia (43.4%). ECMO was applied within 7 days in 76.3% of patients. The primary outcomes, such as Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and hospital mortality rates, were higher during period 1 (91.3%) than period 2 (66.7%,p= 0.013). A multivariate analysis revealed that ECMO weaning failure was the only factor associated with ICU and hospital mortality (ICU mortality: hazard ratio [HR], 11.349; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.281 to 100.505;p= 0.029; hospital mortality: HR, 17.976; 95% CI, 2.263 to 142.777;p= 0.006).
  
  
  
  The mortality rate associated with the ECMO procedure decreased following the ECMO training program. However, applying the training program to ECMO management is not an independent factor for the mortality rate. Further studies should be performed to help reduce the mortality rate associated with ECMO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Go-Woon
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Younsuck
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chae-Man
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Bum
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Bum
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000628:therapy; D058996:Quality Improvement; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Experience and education; Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Mortality; Respiratory insufficiency