Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in COVID-19 Patients with Acute Respiratory Disorder Syndrome: Literature Review

Abstract

Email: fnr200@ums.ac.id ABSTRACT Background: COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It develops into acute respiratory distress and the majority of affected patients are placed under respiratory assistance in the intensive care unit. Furthermore, several efforts have been made to treat this condition, and these include refractory to mechanical ventilation, and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) therapy following the guidelines recently published by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO). Objectives: This study aims to identify the effectiveness of using ECMO therapy in prolonging the life expectancy of COVID-19 patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: This literature review identified 6 relevant studies following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes (PRISMA). Results: A total of 32 from 157 full-text articles were analyzed based on the eligibility criteria. Meanwhile, up to 6 selected articles were obtained, including 263 for COVID-19 patients that required ECMO therapy in the ICU. A total of 119 were decannulated and discharged from the ICU/hospital, 25 were still being treated with ECMO and 119 died. The factors that influence the success rate of using ECMO in patients are age, gender, comorbidities, and complications during the initiation process. Conclusion: Different reports showed that COVID-19 patients with ARDS have a high mortality rate. Therefore, alternative therapy such as ECMO should be provided to prolong life expectancy by considering the patient's indications and contraindications before the initiation of