Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Refractory Asthma Exacerbations With Respiratory Failure
The research paper examined the use of ECMO as a salvage therapy for refractory AERF and its impact on mortality. The study analyzed 13,714 AERF patients, with 127 receiving ECMO and 13,587 without it. ECMO was associated with reduced mortality in different models (OR ranging from 0.33 to 0.61) compared to standard care. However, ECMO was linked to higher hospital costs without significant effects on ICU or hospital length of stay or time on invasive ventilation. Confirmatory clinical trials are needed to validate ECMO's role as an important salvage therapy for refractory AERF.
Perspective:
ECMO shows promise in reducing mortality for refractory AERF, but further research and clinical trials are crucial to confirm its benefits and assess cost-effectiveness. As physicians, we should consider these findings when managing critically ill AERF patients, weighing the potential mortality benefits against the associated hospital costs.
#AERF #ECMO #Mortality #ClinicalTrials
insha'Allah, ECMO will be available in the future in our country