Does a mobile ECLS program reduce mortality for patients transported for ECLS therapy for severe acute respiratory failure?

OBJECTIVE: To understand if mobile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation reduces patient mortality during and after transport of patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory distress syndrome.

DESIGN: Retrospective chart review.

SETTING: University affiliated tertiary care hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-seven patients.

INTERVENTIONS: Introduction of a mobile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program designed to facilitate the implementation of ECMO at outside hospitals in patients too unstable for transport for ECMO.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The 28-day in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the post-mobile group (12/51 [23.5%] v 12/24 [50%], adjusted risk difference: 28.6%, [95% CI 4.7-52.5, p = 0.011]).

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that patients with severe acute respiratory failure who require transport to a referral center for extracorporeal life support may benefit from the availability of a mobile extracorporeal life support team.