Decrease of thoracopulmonary compliance with pressure assist controlled ventilation in ARDS patients under ECMO and transported to a referral centre

Excerpt

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is proposed in patients suffering from refractory acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The low-tidal-volume strategy, by lowering the driving pressure, might limit lung injury and reduces mortality [1, 2]. With haematosis being controlled by the ECMO, patients could benefit from pressure assist controlled ventilation with ultra-protective ventilation strategy leading to reduction and control of driving pressure without hypoxemia and/or hypercapnia [3]. However, with pressure assist controlled ventilation pulmonary aeration strongly depends on the respiratory mechanics [4]. We present here data focusing on initial respiratory mechanics in ARDS patients with this mode who were transferred under ECMO via a mobile team from a primary care hospital to a tertiary referral centre. …