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Published in: Intensive Care Medicine 4/2022

01-04-2022 | COVID-19 | Original

Survival benefit of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in severe COVID-19: a multi-centre-matched cohort study

Authors: Stephen Whebell, Joe Zhang, Rebecca Lewis, Michael Berry, Stephane Ledot, Andrew Retter, Luigi Camporota

Published in: Intensive Care Medicine | Issue 4/2022

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Abstract

Purpose

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has become an established therapy for severe respiratory failure in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The added benefit of receiving ECMO in COVID-19 remains uncertain. The aim of this study is to analyse the impact of receiving ECMO at specialist centres on hospital mortality.

Methods

A multi-centre retrospective study was conducted in COVID-19 patients from 111 hospitals, referred to two specialist ECMO centres in the United Kingdom (UK) (March 2020 to February 2021). Detailed covariate data were contemporaneously curated from electronic referral systems. We analysed added benefit of ECMO treatment in specialist centres using propensity score matching techniques.

Results

1363 patients, 243 receiving ECMO, were analysed. The best matching technique generated 209 matches, with a marginal odds ratio (OR) for mortality of 0.44 (95% CI 0.29–0.68, p < 0.001) and absolute mortality reduction of 18.2% (44% vs 25.8%, p < 0.001) for treatment with ECMO in a specialist centre.

Conclusion

We found ECMO provided at specialist centres conferred significant survival benefit. Where resources and specialism allow, ECMO should be widely offered.
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Literature
Metadata
Title
Survival benefit of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in severe COVID-19: a multi-centre-matched cohort study
Authors
Stephen Whebell
Joe Zhang
Rebecca Lewis
Michael Berry
Stephane Ledot
Andrew Retter
Luigi Camporota
Publication date
01-04-2022
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords
COVID-19
ECMO
ECMO
Published in
Intensive Care Medicine / Issue 4/2022
Print ISSN: 0342-4642
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1238
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-022-06645-w

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