BACKGROUND: Over the last decade, technical improvements in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) equipment have reduced procedure-related complications and have made ECMO an effective option for @entity1 with @entity649 ( @entity649 ) if conventional therapy fails. METHODS: In this report, we present our early experience with the Cardiohelp, a new portable miniaturized ECMO system, in 22 consecutive @entity1 with @entity649 . All @entity1 were placed on venovenous ECMO. Cannulas were inserted percutaneously, employing the Seldinger technique. Data were collected prospectively. RESULTS: The median @entity1 age was 47 years (36 to 61). Fifteen @entity1 from regional hospitals were too unstable for conventional transport and were placed on Cardiohelp at the referring hospital and then transported to our institution. The @entity1 were transported by ambulance (n=2) or helicopter (n=13) over a distance of 50-250 km. Cardiohelp support resulted in immediate improvement of gas exchange and highly protective ventilation. The median duration of support was 13 days (8 to 19). An exchange of the device was necessary in 9 @entity1 . Sixteen @entity1 (72.7%) were successfully weaned from ECMO and fifteen @entity1 (68.2%) survived. Device-related complications were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: The compact portable ECMO device Cardiohelp is a highly effective method to secure vital gas exchange and to reduce further ventilator-induced @entity651 in @entity1 with @entity1576 . Crucial technical innovations and ease of device transport and implantation allow location-independent stabilization with consecutive inter-hospital transfer.

First experience with the new portable extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system Cardiohelp for severe XXXX in adults.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity649 :: ('MESH:D012128', 'Disease') :: ['ARDS', 'acute respiratory distress syndrome'] @entity1576 :: ('MESH:D012131', 'Disease') :: ['acute respiratory failure'] @entity651 :: ('MESH:D055370', 'Disease') :: ['lung injury']
@entity1576 :: (MESH:D012131,Disease) :: ['respiratory failure']
