Table 1.
Severity-related characteristics and respiratory parameters before ECMO.
| Variables | Number of patients (%) |
|---|---|
| Total patients | 18 (100) |
| Non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) before intubation | 7 (38.9) |
| Mechanical ventilation | |
| Pressure-control ventilation (PCV) | 13 (72.2) |
| Volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) | 5 (27.8) |
| Duration of mechanical ventilation, days, mean (SD) | 3.8 (2.4) |
| FiO2 = 1 | 18 (100) |
| PEEP, cm H2O, mean (SD) | 9.8 (2.7) |
| Plateau airway pressure, cm H2O, mean (SD) | 30.0 (2.8) |
| PaO2/FiO2 | 85.6 (42.2) |
| PaCO2, mm Hg, mean (SD) | 72.7 (30.3) |
| pH, mean (SD) | 7.2 (0.1) |
FiO2: fraction of inspired oxygen; PEEP: positive-end expiratory pressure; PaO2: arterial partial oxygen pressure; PaCO2: arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure.
Data expressed as frequencies and percentages in parenthesis unless otherwise stated.