Neuro-cognitive Function 1 Year Post ICU Discharge Among VV ECMO Survivors

In the past three years, in the general intensive care unit in Meir medical center, 25 patients were treated with ECMO, of which two patients were treated with VA ECMO and the rest with VV ECMO. 70% of the patients survived to hospital discharge.

ECMO is indicated as a rescue therapy for patients in critical condition suffering from severe cardiac and/or respiratory failure that does not respond to conservative treatment. It can be used as a bridge to recovery or to heart/lung transplantation. ECMO was introduced in the late seventies of the pervious century. Between the years 2006-2011, partly due to the outbreak of the flu epidemic (H1N1), a 433% increase was observed in the use of ECMO worldwide in adults. In light of the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic in recent years, another significant increase has been observed.

There are short-term and long-term complications of ECMO. Short-term complications include bleeding, thrombosis, hemolysis, HIT, renal and neurological injuries, associated infections, and technical-mechanical problems. Long-term complications include significant physical and psychological consequences that may adversely affect the patient's daily function, especially executive function.