To determine whether a strategy of adding venovenous ECMO to mechanical ventilation, as compared to mechanical ventilation alone, increases the number of intensive care free days at day 60, in patients with moderate to severe acute hypoxic respiratory failure.
Patients ≥18 to 65 years old
Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure characterised by new or worsening respiratory symptoms developing within 2 weeks prior to the onset of need for oxygen or respiratory support
Mechanical ventilation of <7 days
Moderate to severe respiratory failure, as demonstrated by two P:F ratios <150mmHg at least 6 hours apart. Arterial Blood Gases (ABG) with P:F ratio > 150mmHg are permitted between the two trial inclusion ABGs.
The patient will be extubated today or tomorrow (i.e. will not remain intubated and ventilated the day after tomorrow)
Cardiogenic cause of respiratory failure
Chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure defined as PaCO2 > 60 mmHg in the outpatient setting
Home mechanical ventilation (non-invasive ventilation or via tracheotomy) except for CPAP/BIPAP used solely for sleep disordered breathing
Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre
Lead sponsor
The Alfred
Collaborator