ObjectiveThe development of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in Latin America
represents a challenge in this specialty field. The objective of this article was
to describe the results of a new extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program in an
intensive care unit.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included 22 patients who required extracorporeal
membrane oxygenation and were treated from January 2011 to June 2014. The baseline
characteristics, indications, duration of the condition, days on mechanical
ventilation, days in the intensive care unit, complications, and hospital
mortality were evaluated.ResultsFifteen patients required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after lung
transplantation, and seven patients required oxygenation due to acute respiratory
distress. All transplanted patients were weaned from extracorporeal membrane
oxygenation with a median duration of 3 days (Interquartile range - IQR: 2 - 5),
were on mechanical ventilation for a median of 15.5 days (IQR: 3 - 25), and had an
intensive care unit stay of 31.5 days (IQR: 19 - 53) and a median hospital stay of
60 days (IQR: 36 - 89) with 20% mortality. Patients with acute respiratory
distress had a median oxygenation membrane duration of 9 days (IQR: 3 - 14),
median mechanical ventilation time of 25 days (IQR: 13 - 37), a 31 day stay in
therapy (IQR: 11 - 38), a 32 day stay in the hospital (IQR: 11 - 41), and 57%
mortality. The main complications were infections (80%), acute kidney failure
(43%), bleeding at the surgical site and at the site of cannula placement (22%),
plateletopenia (60%), and coagulopathy (30%).ConclusionIn spite of the steep learning curve, we considered this experience to be
satisfactory, with results and complications comparable to those reported in the
literature.
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