Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Transport Part 1: Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Configurations and Physiology

Outcomes and risk factors of transported patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: An ECMO center experience

Background

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been proven to be a support method and technology for patients with cardiopulmonary failure. However, the transport of patients under ECMO support is challenging given the high-risk technical maneuvers and patient-care concerns involved. Herein, we examined the safety of ECMO during the transport of critically ill patients and its impact on mortality rates, to provide more secure and effective transport strategies in clinical practice.

Method

To assess the safety of ECMO patient transport, this study conducted a retrospective analysis on critically ill adults who required ECMO support and transport at the intensive care unit (ICU) center between 2017 and 2023. The study utilized standard ECMO transport protocols and conducted a comprehensive statistical analysis of the collected clinical data and transport processes. The 28-day survival rate for ECMO patients was determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis, while logistic regression identified prognostic factors.

Result

Out of 303 patients supported with ECMO, 111 (36.6%) were transported. 69.4% of the transport group were male, mean age was (42.0±17.0) years, mean body mass index was (24.4±4.6) kg/m2, and veno-arterial-ECMO accounted for 52.5%. The median transportation distance was 190 (interquartile range [IQR]: 70-260) km, and the longest distance was 8100 km. The median transit time was 180 (IQR: 100-260) min, and the maximum duration was 1720 min. No severe adverse events including death or mechanical failure occurred during transportation. The 28-day survival rate was 64.7% (n=196) and ICU survival rate was 56.1% (n=170) for the entire cohort; whereas, the 28-day survival rate was 72.1% (n=80) and ICU survival rate was 66.7% (n=74) in the transport group. A non-significant difference in 28-day survival was observed between the two groups after propensity score matching (P=0.56). Additionally, we found that acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score (odds ratio [OR]=1.06, P <0.01), lactate levels (>5 mmol/L, OR=2.80, P=0.01), and renal replacement therapy initiation (OR=3.03, P <0.01) were associated with increased mortality risk.

Conclusion

Transporting patients on ECMO between medical facilities is a safe procedure that does not increase patient mortality rates, provided it is orchestrated and executed by proficient transport teams. The prognostic outcome for these patients is predominantly influenced by their pre-existing medical conditions or by complications that may develop during the course of ECMO therapy. These results form the basis for the creation of specialized ECMO network hubs within healthcare regions.

European Burns Association guidelines for the management of burn mass casualty incidents within a European response plan

BACKGROUND

A European response plan to burn mass casualty incidents has been jointly developed by the European Commission and the European Burn Association. Upon request for assistance by an affected country, the plan outlines a mechanism for coordinated international assistance, aiming to alleviate the burden of care in the affected country and to offer adequate specialized care to all patients who can benefit from it. To that aim, Burn Assessment Teams are deployed to assess and triage patients. Their transportation priority recommendations are used to distribute outnumbering burn casualties to foreign burn centers. Following an appropriate medical evacuation, these casualties receive specialized care in those facilities.

METHODS

The European Burns Association's disaster committee developed medical-organizational guidelines to support this European plan. The experts identified fields of interest, defined questions to be addressed, performed relevant literature searches, and added their expertise in burn disaster preparedness and response. Due to the lack of high-level evidence in the available literature, recommendations and specially designed implementation tools were provided from expert opinion. The European Burns Association officially endorsed the draft recommendations in 2019, and the final full text was approved by the EBA executive committee in 2022.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The resulting 46 recommendations address four fields. Field 1 underlines the need for national preparedness plans and the necessary core items within such plans, including coordination and integration with an international response. Field 2 describes Burn Assessment Teams' roles, composition, training requirements, and reporting goals. Field 3 addresses the goals of specialized in-hospital triage, appropriate severity criteria, and their effects on priorities and triage. Finally, field 4 covers medical evacuations, including their timing and organization, the composition of evacuation teams and their assets, preparation, and the principles of en route care.

Safety of Interhospital ECMO Transport by Low-Volume ECMO Transport Centers

We present our 20 years of experience as a low-volume extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) transport center from the Southeast United States. This is a retrospective chart review of all ECMO transported patients between 1998 and 2017. Of 26 patients who were ECMO transported, median age was 15.5 days, 14 patients (54%) were neonates, 18 (69%) patients had primary cardiac pathologies, and 16 (61.5%) patients had primary ECMO transport. Median distance traveled was 81 miles. All patients were on venoarterial ECMO. Complications occurred in three patients (11.5%). Survival to discharge was 69%. Neonatal and pediatric ECMO transport by a low-volume ECMO transport center is safe.

Pre-hospital care & interfacility transport of 385 COVID-19 emergency patients: an air ambulance perspective

BACKGROUND

COVID-19, the pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, is challenging healthcare systems worldwide. Little is known about problems faced by emergency medical services-particularly helicopter services-caring for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients. We aimed to describe the issues faced by air ambulance services in Europe as they transport potential COVID-19 patients.

METHODS

Nine different HEMS providers in seven different countries across Europe were invited to share their experiences and to report their data regarding the care, transport, and safety measures in suspected or confirmed COVID-19 missions. Six air ambulance providers in six countries agreed and reported their data regarding development of special procedures and safety instructions in preparation for the COVID-19 pandemic. Four providers agreed to provide mission related data. Three hundred eighty-five COVID-19-related missions were analysed, including 119 primary transport missions and 266 interfacility transport missions.

RESULTS

All providers had developed special procedures and safety instructions in preparation for COVID-19. Ground transport was the preferred mode of transport in primary missions, whereas air transport was preferred for interfacility transport. In some countries the transport of COVID-19 patients by regular air ambulance services was avoided. Patients in interfacility transport missions had a significantly higher median (range) NACA Score 4 (2-5) compared with 3 (1-7), needed significantly more medical interventions, were significantly younger (59.6 ± 16 vs 65 ± 21 years), and were significantly more often male (73% vs 60.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

All participating air ambulance providers were prepared for COVID-19. Safe care and transport of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients is achievable. Most patients on primary missions were transported by ground. These patients were less sick than interfacility transport patients, for whom air transport was the preferred method.