title: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory distress syndrome.
abstract: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be a lifesaving therapy in patients with refractory severe respiratory failure or cardiac failure. Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) still has a high-mortality rate, but ECMO may be able to improve the outcome. Use of ECMO for respiratory failure has been increasing since 2009. Initiation of ECMO for adult ARDS should be considered when conventional therapy cannot maintain adequate oxygenation. ECMO can stabilize gas exchange and haemodynamic compromise, consequently preventing further hypoxic organ damage. ECMO is not a treatment for the underlying cause of ARDS. Because ARDS has multiple causes, the diagnosis should be investigated and treatment should be commenced during ECMO. Since ECMO is a complicated and high-risk therapy, adequate training in its performance and creation of a referring hospital network are essential. ECMO transport may be an effective method of transferring patients with severe ARDS.
authors.affiliation: ECMO Centre Karolinska, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aokage
authors.affiliation: ECMO Centre Karolinska, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Palmér
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Emergency Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558 Japan.
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ichiba
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Nippon Medical School Hospital, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603 Japan.
authors.forename: Shinhiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takeda
keywords: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; Extracorporeal life support; Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Hypoxia