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BackgroundThe aim of this retrospective study is to investigate the therapeutic benefits and the bleeding risks of venovenous extracorporeal life support (VV-ECLS) when used for adult posttraumatic respiratory distress syndrome (posttraumatic ARDS).Materials and methodsTwenty adult trauma patients (median age: 38 years, median injury severity score: 35) treated with VV-ECLS in a level I trauma center between January 2004 and June 2013 were enrolled in this study. The indication of VV-ECLS for posttraumatic ARDS was refractory hypoxemia (PaO2/FiO2 ratio ≤ 70 mmHg) under advanced mechanical ventilation. To minimize potential complications, a protocol-guided VV-ECLS was adopted.ResultsSixteen patients were weaned off VV-ECLS, and of these patients fourteen survived. Medians of the trauma-to-ECLS time, the pre-ECLS mechanical ventilation, and the ECLS duration in all patients were 64, 45, and 144 hours respectively. The median PaO2/FiO2 ratio was improved significantly soon after VV-ECLS, from 56 to 106 mmHg (p < 0.001). However, seven major hemorrhages occurred during VV-ECLS, of which three were lethal. The multivariate analysis revealed that the occurrence of major hemorrhages during VV-ECLS was independently related to the trauma-to-ECLS time < 24 hours (OR: 20; p = 0.02; 95% CI: 2–239; c-index: 0.81).ConclusionsDespite an effective respiratory support, VV-ECLS should be cautiously administered to patients who develop advanced ARDS soon after major trauma.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13049-014-0056-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Patients with multiple traumas associated with cardiopulmonary failure have a high mortality rate; however, such patients can be temporarily stabilized using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), providing a bridge to rescue therapy. Using a retrospective study design, we aimed to clarify the prognostic factors of post-traumatic ECMO support.From March 2006 to July 2016, 43 adult patients (mean age, 37.3 ± 15.2 years; 7 females [16.3%]) underwent ECMO because of post-traumatic cardiopulmonary failure. Pre-ECMO demographics, peri-ECMO events, and post-ECMO recoveries were compared between survivors and nonsurvivors.The most common traumatic insult was traffic collision (n = 30, 69.8%), and involved injury areas included the chest (n = 33, 76.7%), head (n = 14, 32.6%), abdomen (n = 21, 48.8%), and fractures (n = 21, 48.8%). Fifteen patients (34.9%) underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation and 22 (51.2%) received rescue interventions before ECMO deployment. The mean time interval between trauma and ECMO was 90.6 ± 130.1 hours, and the mode of support was venovenous in 26 patients (60.5%). A total of 26 patients (60.5%) were weaned off of ECMO and 22 (51.6%) survived to discharge, with an overall mean support time of 162.9 ± 182.7 hours. A multivariate regression analysis identified 2 significant predictors for in-hospital mortality: an injury severity score (ISS) >30 (odds ratio [OR], 9.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–18.47; P = 0.042), and the requirement of renal replacement therapy (RRT) during ECMO (OR, 8.64; 95% CI, 1.73–26.09; P = 0.020). These two factors were also significant for the 1-year survival (ISS >30: 12.5%; ISS ≤30, 48.1%, P = 0.001) (RRT required, 15.0%; RRT not required, 52.2%, P = 0.006).Using ECMO in selected traumatized patients with cardiopulmonary failure can be a salvage therapy. Prompt intervention before shock-impaired systemic organ perfusion and acute renal failure, especially in high ISS patients, is crucial for both hospital and one-year survival.