ECMO extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in refractory hypoxemia by COVID-19. A review article.

Abstract

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy (ECMO) was very often used as a life support measure to treat refractory hypoxemia, mainly in patients with covid-19, since 2020.

This work has as general objectives to evaluate the usefulness of ECMO in the Intensive Care Unit and as specific objectives: to determine the usefulness of ECMO in patients with VOCID -19 and Know the usefulness of ECMO in patients with severe respiratory distress with refractory hypoxemia.

A review was made of current scientific articles obtained from databases of high prestige and international recognition such as Pubmed, New England Journal of Medicine, international guides, Journal of critical care, WHO guides, among others. Articles mostly from 2019 onwards, in Spanish and English. 26 articles were selected.  26 articles were selected. Review articles, meta-analysis, observational, descriptive, retrospective studies and opinions of authors on the topic Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in refractory hypoxemia by COVID-19 and the result was that ECMO, is a useful tool to reduce mortality and organ failure in critical patients with refractory hypoxemia, providing a benefit with reduced morbidity and mortality associated with respiratory distress in critical patients with persistent hypoxemia. It is concluded that it is an effective treatment caused by VOCID infection-19.