BACKGROUND The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) has suggested that extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patients should be managed by a multidisciplinary team. However, there are limited data on the impact of ECMO team on the outcomes of patients with severe acute respiratory failure. METHODS All consecutive patients with severe acute respiratory failure who underwent ECM...

A previously fit and well man developed acute respiratory failure due to environmental mould exposure from living in damp rental accommodation. Despite aggressive intensive care management he rapidly deteriorated and required respiratory and cardiac Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation. We hypothesize that poor domiciliary conditions may make an underestimated contribution to community respirato...

BACKGROUND The investigators compared a series of adult survivors of severe H1N1 pneumonia treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with members of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry for patients with H1N1 with regard to ventilator management while on ECMO. METHODS Adults who survived ECMO were compared regarding time on ECMO for those treated with the Volume...

Fulminant hepatic failure is a fatal complication of iron intoxication. Currently, there no well-established treatment. A 23-year-old Japanese woman, with past medical history deficiency anemia, presented fulminant caused by Multiple organ progressed despite plasma exchanges and deferoxamine therapy, she subsequently developed acute respiratory distress syndrome. Even though Venous-Venous Extra...

A patient diagnosed with advanced lung cancer developed severe dyspnea after chemotherapy. Metastatic tumor completely obstructing the lower trachea was revealed by bronchoscopy. Emergent surgery required but it difficult to perform open tracheal and maintain sufficient ventilation intubation because of location size tumor. After consultation an esthesiologist, respiratory physician cardiothora...

The role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the treatment of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is controversial, notwithstanding the recent publication of the results of the CESAR (Conventional Ventilation or ECMO for Severe Adult Respiratory Failure) trial. Using Bayesian meta-analytic methods from three randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of ECMO in ARDS, we estimat...

A case of Legionella pneumonia, severe adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple organ failure is described in a patient who required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) prior to transfer to a hospital with ECMO facilities. She eventually made a good recovery, highlighting the potential benefits of ECMO in patients with severe and refractory ARDS.

Despite the implementation of several alternative strategies for management of respiratory failure in neonates, such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, high frequency ventilation, and nitric oxide, conventional assisted ventilation remains the mainstay of treatment. This has traditionally been accomplished by time cycled, pressure limited ventilators over the past three decades primarily b...