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ECMO in Trauma Patients: Guidelines for Practice Management and Evidence-Based Review2025
Type: New Evidence Based Review (EBR)
Category: Trauma
Committee Liaison: Rachel D. Appelbaum, MD
Team leader(s)
Statement of Need:
Currently, the use of ECMO, which has been widely implemented in medical critical care patients, remains a pivotal therapy for acute hypoxic respiratory failure, not only as a rescue intervention but as a standard of care in cases such as severe influenza and COVID-19. While most literature focuses on ECMO use in medical patients, its application in trauma has been extrapolated from global studies with limited consensus on standardized implementation. There remains a paucity of data regarding the early initiation of ECMO in trauma patients.
Team Members:
Dr. Jeremy Cannon MD (Senior Team Leader)
Dr. Robert DesPain MD
Dr. Nicole Fox MD
Dr. Christopher Butts DO