In this retrospective observational cohort study, we aimed to describe the rate of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuit change, the associated risk factors and its relationship with patient characteristics and outcome in patients receiving venovenous (VV) ECMO at our center between January 2015 and November 2017. Twenty-seven percent of the patients receiving VV ECMO (n = 224) had at least one circuit change, which was associated with lower ICU survival (68% vs 82% p=0.032) and longer ICU stay (30 vs .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA broncho-cutaneous fistula (BCF) is a communicating tract between the bronchus and the cutaneous surface of the thoracic wall and can be the primary presenting sign of several disease processes. It has been associated with positive pressure ventilation (PPV), post pneumonectomy, thoracostomy tubes, perforating chest trauma, neoplasia and chronic empyema. We report a case of a 45-year-old immunocompetent man presenting with severe hypercapnic respiratory failure secondary to a BCF as a result of tuberculosis (TB)-related empyema necessitans.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) in severe hypoxaemic respiratory failure from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been described, but reported utilisation and outcomes are variable, and detailed information on patient characteristics is lacking. We aim to report clinical characteristics, management and outcomes of COVID-19 patients requiring VV-ECMO, admitted over 2 months to a high-volume centre in the UK.
Methods: Patient information, including baseline characteristics and clinical parameters, was collected retrospectively from electronic health records for COVID-19 VV-ECMO admissions between 3 March and 2 May 2020.