Coronavirus and the Potential Role of ECMO

The relatively new coronavirus has already infected thousands of patients in China and is now rapidly spreading globally. Many countries have already reported cases of coronavirus and the WHO has declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a public health emergency and has released preliminary guidelines on management of patients.

Most reports out of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, indicate that COVID-19 primarily affects the lung and causes severe pneumonia. Anywhere from 15-30% of patients develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) very quickly. The WHO has established interim guidelines for treatment of ARDS in the setting of COVID-19. Key consideration should be given to patients with refractory hypoxaemia at tertiary care centres that are capable of proving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).