Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery
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Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg · Jan 2013
Comparative StudyExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation with spontaneous breathing as a bridge to lung transplantation.
A large number of transplantation centres consider extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as an inappropriate option for bridging critical patients to lung transplantation. Technical improvements such as the introduction of a polymethylpentene membrane, new centrifugal pumps and heparin-coated circuits have led to a safer application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and an increasing number of centres are reporting their positive experiences. The aim of this study was to review our practice in bridging critical candidates to lung transplantation with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, by comparing patients with invasive mechanical ventilation with patients with spontaneous breathing. ⋯ Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in spontaneously breathing patients is a feasible, effective and safe bridge to lung transplantation.