Extracorporeal lung support in patients with spinal cord injury: Single center experience

Trauma-related spinal cord injury can lead to respiratory complications, impacting respiratory muscle function and potentially causing severe lung failure. When lung-protective ventilation isn't enough, extracorporeal lung support (iLA/ECMO) helps oxygenate tissues and remove carbon dioxide, preventing ventilator-associated lung damage. This study presents results from patients with tetraplegia and paraplegia who underwent extracorporeal lung support (ECMO and iLA) for post-traumatic lung failure.

• 1
  All 5 ECMO-supported patients were successfully weaned, and one of the two iLA-treated patients was weaned from the device.
• 2
  The survival rate of 71.4% suggests that extracorporeal devices are a feasible treatment option for SCI patients with post-traumatic lung failure.
• 3
  SCI patients required longer ventilation periods and had longer hospital stays due to the pathophysiology of the injury and the need for rehabilitation.