ECMO: A Promising Treatment for Critically Ill Obese Patients

A study funded by the National Institutes of Health suggests that the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) does not complicate treatment for severe respiratory failure in adults with obesity. The study found that adults with obesity who received ECMO for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) had lower mortality rates compared to patients without obesity who received ECMO. The findings support the use of ECMO as a potential lifesaving therapy for critically ill patients with obesity and ARDS.