Discover the critical insights on the resilience and recovery journey of COVID-19 patients who have depended on extended ECMO support, a testament to the tenacity of human health in the face of the pandemic.
– by The Don
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Survival and Long-Term Functional Status of COVID-19 Patients Requiring Prolonged ECMO Support.
Martínez Martínez et al., Ann Am Thorac Soc 2023
DOI: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202306-572OC
Listen up, folks!
We’ve got something incredible to talk about. It’s about people, great people, who are fighting the toughest battle with COVID-19. These are severe cases, the toughest you can imagine, and they need something called ECMO for a long time, more than 28 days. That’s a long time, believe me.
Now, the objective here, and it’s a very important one, is to figure out what makes someone survive this. We’re talking about survival, which is what we all want, right? And not just surviving, but being in good shape six months down the line. We did a huge study, a retrospective one, with lots of patients who were on ECMO for a long time because of COVID-19.
And guess what we found? We found some things that are very important. Age, it matters. And this strategy, where patients are awake while on ECMO, doing rehab, it’s fantastic. It’s a game-changer. These people, they’re surviving at rates you wouldn’t believe. Over 50% are leaving the hospital alive, and that’s a big deal.
But here’s the kicker: if you’re on ECMO for a really long time, like 47 days or more, you might need oxygen later on. But still, the survival, it’s huge. People are going home, they’re breathing on their own, and they’re living their lives.
So, to conclude, we’re seeing amazing things. People with COVID-19, on ECMO for a long time, they can make it. And not just make it, but thrive. Age and staying awake during treatment, these are big factors. And the longer you’re on ECMO, the more you might need some help breathing later. But folks, the bottom line is, survival is possible, and it’s happening. It’s truly incredible.