Díaz, Rodrigo A.Graf, JerónimoZambrano, José M.Ruiz, CarolinaEspinoza, Juan A.Bravo, Sebastián I.Salazar, Pablo A.Bahamondes, Juan C.Castillo, Luis B.Gajardo, Abraham I.J.Kursbaum, AndrésFerreira, Leonila L.Valenzuela, JosefaCastillo, Roberto E.Pérez-Araos, RodrigoBravo, MarcelaAquevedo, Andrés F.González, Mauricio G.Pereira, RodrigoOrtega, LeandroSantis, CesarFernández, Paula A.Cortés, VilmaCornejo, Rodrigo A.2022-03-292022-03-292021iaz RA, Graf J, Zambrano JM, Ruiz C, Espinoza JA, Bravo SI, Salazar PA, Bahamondes JC, Castillo LB, Gajardo AIJ, Kursbaum A, Ferreira LL, Valenzuela J, Castillo RE, Pérez-Araos RA, Bravo M, Aquevedo AF, González MG, Pereira R, Ortega L, Santis C, Fernández PA, Cortés V, Cornejo RA. Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for COVID-19-associated Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Chile: A Nationwide Incidence and Cohort Study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021 Jul 1;204(1):34-43. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202011-4166OChttps://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202011-4166OChttp://hdl.handle.net/11447/5842Rationale: The role of and needs for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) at a population level during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have not been completely established. Objectives: To identify the cumulative incidence of ECMO use in the first pandemic wave and to describe the Nationwide Chilean cohort of ECMO-supported patients with COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a population-based study from March 3 to August 31, 2020, using linked data from national agencies. The cumulative incidence of ECMO use and mortality risk of ECMO-supported patients were calculated and age standardized. In addition, a retrospective cohort analysis was performed. Outcomes were 90-day mortality after ECMO initiation, ECMO-associated complications, and hospital length of stay. Cox regression models were used to explore risk factors for mortality in a time-to-event analysis. Measurements and Main Results: Ninety-four patients with COVID-19 were supported with ECMO (0.42 per population of 100,000, 14.89 per 100,000 positive cases, and 1.2% of intubated patients with COVID-19); 85 were included in the cohort analysis, and the median age was 48 (interquartile range [IQR], 41-55) years, 83.5% were men, and 42.4% had obesity. The median number of pre-ECMO intubation days was 4 (IQR, 2-7), the median PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 86.8 (IQR, 64-99) mm Hg, 91.8% of patients were prone positioned, and 14 patients had refractory respiratory acidosis. Main complications were infections (70.6%), bleeding (38.8%), and thromboembolism (22.4%); 52 patients were discharged home, and 33 died. The hospital length of stay was a median of 50 (IQR, 24-69) days. Lower respiratory system compliance and higher driving pressure before ECMO initiation were associated with increased mortality. A duration of pre-ECMO intubation ≥10 days was not associated with mortality. Conclusions: Documenting nationwide ECMO needs may help in planning ECMO provision for future COVID-19 pandemic waves. The 90-day mortality of the Chilean cohort of ECMO-supported patients with COVID-19 (38.8%) is comparable to that of previous reports.enExtracorporeal membrane oxygenationCovid-19Severe acute respiratory distress syndromePandemicArticle