ECMO for COVID-19 patients in Europe and Israel

Since March 15th, 2020, 177 centres from Europe and Israel have joined the study, routinely reporting on the ECMO support they provide to COVID-19 patients. The mean annual number of cases treated with ECMO in the participating centres before the pandemic (2019) was 55. The number of COVID-19 patients has increased rapidly each week reaching 1531 treated patients as of September 14th. The greatest number of cases has been reported from France (n = 385), UK (n = 193), Germany (n = 176), Spain (n = 166), and Italy (n = 136) .The mean age of treated patients was 52.6 years (range 16–80), 79% were male. The ECMO configuration used was VV in 91% of cases, VA in 5% and other in 4%. The mean PaO2 before ECMO implantation was 65 mmHg. The mean duration of ECMO support thus far has been 18 days and the mean ICU length of stay of these patients was 33 days. As of the 14th September, overall 841 patients have been weaned from ECMO support, 601 died during ECMO support, 71 died after withdrawal of ECMO, 79 are still receiving ECMO support and for 10 patients status n.a. . Our preliminary data suggest that patients placed on ECMO with severe refractory respiratory or cardiac failure secondary to COVID-19 have a reasonable (55%) chance of survival. Further extensive data analysis is expected to provide invaluable information on the demographics, severity of illness, indications and different ECMO management strategies in these patients

Acquired Factor XIII Deficiency Is Common during ECMO Therapy and Associated with Major Bleeding Events and Transfusion Requirements

Background: Bleeding events are frequent complications during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy (ECMO). Objective: To determine the rate of acquired factor XIII deficiency and its association with major bleeding events and transfusion requirements in adults undergoing ECMO therapy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective single centre cohort study. Adult patients receiving veno-venous or veno-arterial ECMO therapy during a 2-year period were analysed and screened for factor XIII activity measurements. Factor XIII deficiency was defined based on the lowest factor XIII activity measured during ECMO therapy. Results: Among 84 subjects included into the analysis, factor XIII deficiency occurred in 69% during ECMO therapy. There were more major bleeding events (OR, 3.37; 95% CI, 1.16–10.56; p = 0.02) and higher transfusion requirements (red blood cells, 20 vs. 12, p p = 0.006) in patients with factor XIII deficiency compared to patients with normal factor XIII activity. In a multivariate regression model, factor XIII deficiency was independently associated with bleeding severity (p = 0.03). Conclusions: In this retrospective single centre study, acquired factor XIII deficiency was observed in 69% of adult ECMO patients with a high bleeding risk. Factor XIII deficiency was associated with higher rates of major bleeding events and transfusion requirements