Prognostication of Patients on Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Influenza-Induced Respiratory Failure: Best Practice and Holistic Implications

WITH the increasing incidence of influenza pandemics comes more critically ill patients presenting with respiratory failure for whom intubation and mechanical ventilation alone is inadequate. Patients with respiratory failure from influenza refractory to standard treatment may be placed on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) to allow their lungs to recover. VV-ECMO may be used for respiratory failure from multiple etiologies, and patient outcomes after ECMO are an area of active research.

Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - March 20, 2020 Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Danielle Pulton, Jesse Kiefer, William Vernick, Jacob T. Gutsche, Jesse Raiten Tags: Editorial Source Type: research