Prolonged heparin-free extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in multiple injured acute respiratory distress syndrome patients with traumatic brain injury.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be used as an "ultima ratio" strategy in multiple injured patients with severe thoracic trauma. However, systemic anticoagulation during ECMO is recommended and thus traumatic brain injury (TBI) and intracranial bleeding are well-accepted contraindications for ECMO therapy.

Methods: This report describes three cases of prolonged heparin-free venovenous ECMO in multiple injured acute respiratory distress syndrome patients with severe TBI failing conventional mechanical ventilation.

Combining "open-lung" ventilation and arteriovenous extracorporeal lung assist: influence of different tidal volumes on gas exchange in experimental lung failure.

Background: Although low-tidal ventilation may reduce mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), it can also result in severe respiratory acidosis and lung derecruitment. This study tested the hypothesis that combining "open-lung" ventilation and arteriovenous extracorporeal lung assist (av-ECLA) allows for maximal tidal volume (VT) reduction without the development of decompensated respiratory acidosis and impairment of oxygenation.

Material/methods: After induction of ARDS in eight female pigs (56.

[Which perioperative tidal volume for patients with healthy lungs undergoing elective surgery? A qualitative systematic review of current evidence].

Background: Lung-protective ventilation strategies for patients suffering from acute lung injury (ALI/ARDS) are well- accepted measures to improve outcome including mortality. But what tidal volume is the best for the patient with non-injured lungs undergoing elective surgery?

Methods: We searched the literature for studies that analysed perioperative tidal volume in patients not suffering from ALI/ARDS.

Results: 10 studies were detected that matched our query.

Acute respiratory distress induced by repeated saline lavage provides stable experimental conditions for 24 hours in pigs.

Surfactant depletion is most often used to study acute respiratory failure in animal models. Because model stability is often criticized, the authors tested the following hypotheses: Repeated pulmonary lavage with normal saline provides stable experimental conditions for 24 hours with a PaO2/FiO2 ratio < 300 mm Hg. Lung injury was induced by bilateral pulmonary lavages in 8 female pigs (51.