Exploring the benefits of prone positioning during ECMO therapy for ARDS patients. Reflecting on the humility and challenges of critical care. Debating the use of medical terminology like 'Portuguese man award' and 'prone ECMO'. Delving into the efficacy of prone positioning and ECMO therapy for severe respiratory issues. Discussing the components and outcomes of the EOLIA study on ECMO therapy for ARDS. Analyzing the results of a clinical trial comparing ECMO to conventional treatment for severe ARDS.
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Quick takeaways
Prone positioning during ECMO may not significantly impact outcomes, despite potential trends towards more ECMO weaning failures in the prone group.
Specific ventilation strategies for ECMO patients, focusing on ultra-lung protective ventilation with low tidal volumes, raise questions about optimal management and highlight the need for further research in this area.
Comparing outcomes of COVID-19 patients on VV ECMO showed nuanced differences in days on ECMO, mechanical ventilation, and ICU stay, suggesting varied responses to prone positioning in this patient cohort.
Deep dives
Prone Positioning and Its Impact on ECMO Weaning
The study delved into the application of prone positioning during ECMO treatment, aiming to accelerate ECMO weaning. Patients were prone for 16 hours each day for the first four days, showing a trend towards more ECMO weaning failures in the prone group (10.5% vs 3.6% in supine). However, overall mortality rates at 60 and 90 days were similar between the prone and supine groups, indicating no significant impact on outcomes.
Ventilation Strategies and Practices in the Trial
The trial outlined specific ventilation strategies used on ECMO patients, focusing on ultra-lung protective ventilation with tidal volumes <4cc per kg. Although some differences were noted in PEEP levels and respiratory rates compared to standard practices, the ventilation protocols demonstrated a reasonable approach. The study raised questions about the optimal ventilation strategies for ECMO patients and emphasized the need for further research in this area.
Patient Population and Trial Outcomes Overview
The trial included predominantly COVID-19 patients on VV ECMO, posing unique challenges in outcomes assessment. While the trial outcomes did not show significant differences in successful ECMO weaning or mortality rates between prone and supine groups, there were nuanced differences in days on ECMO, mechanical ventilation, and ICU stay, hinting at varied responses to prone positioning in this specific patient cohort.
Discussion on Trial Results and Patient Outcomes
The podcast discusses the outcomes of a trial comparing outcomes of patients receiving ECMO versus conventional treatment. The trial showed similar outcomes between the two groups, emphasizing that ECMO did not provide additional benefit in terms of mortality or treatment failure. The discussion delves into the challenges of interpreting the trial results and the implications for patient care, highlighting the importance of patient selection and experience of ECMO providers.
Considerations in ECMO Utilization and Patient Selection
The episode explores the complexities of utilizing ECMO for patients with severe ARDS and the critical role of patient selection. It raises ethical and practical dilemmas related to resource allocation and decision-making in challenging scenarios. The conversation underscores the significance of experience and expertise in ECMO provision, while acknowledging the difficulty in balancing clinical indications with logistical constraints, especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Episode 28! In this episodes we talk about ECMO! PRONECMO evaluated the effect of prone positioning on patients already on ECMO by Schmidt et al in JAMA December 2023 and then EOLIA by Combes et al in NEJM 2018 which is our old article which randomized patients to ECMO or not. Great discussion here!
If you enjoy the show be sure to like and subscribe, leave that 5 star review! Be sure to follow us on the social @icucast for the associated figures, comments, and other content not available in the audio format! Email us at icuedandtoddcast@gmail.com with any questions or suggestions! Thank you Mike Gannon for the intro and exit music!
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