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Table 1 Italian Ministry of Health criteria to discuss the need of ECMO.

From: Ventilatory and ECMO treatment of H1N1-induced severe respiratory failure: results of an Italian referral ECMO center

Acute respiratory failure with one of the following condition:

1. SaO2 < 85% for at least 1 hour

2. Oxygenation Index >25 for at least 6 hours after ventilation optimisation

3. PaO2/FiO2 < 100 with PEEP ≥ 10cmH2O for at least 6 hours after ventilation's optimization

4. Hypercapnia with pH < 7.25

5. SvO2 < 65% with hematocrit >30 and under vasoactive drugs infusion

  1. The parameter are referred to a condition of lung protective ventilation (tidal volume:4-6 ml/Kg of predicted body weight; plateau pressure ≤ 30 cmH20; PEEP >lower inflection point of the curve pressure-volume).
  2. PEEP: positive end-expiratory pressure; PaO2: arterial oxygen partial pressure; FiO2: inspired oxygen fraction; RR: respiratory rate; SaO2: peripheral oxygen saturation; SvO2: central venous oxygen saturation.
  3. Oxygenation Index: Mean airway pressure (cmH2O) * FiO2 * 100/PaO2;
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BMC Pulmonary Medicine

ISSN: 1471-2466

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