The pumpless extracorporeal lung membrane provides complete respiratory support during complex airway reconstructions without inducing cellular trauma or a coagulatory and inflammatory response

Objective Our objective was to investigate the capacity of a pumpless extracorporeal lung membrane (iLA) (Novalung; Novalung GmbH, Hechingen, Germany) to provide adequate respiratory support and the impact on morbidity/mortality during complex airway reconstruction. Methods Only patients unable to be ventilated via conventional intubation were eligible for the study. A larynx mask or orotracheal tubes were placed above the airway defect and the iLA was attached via femoral vessels (arteriovenous), providing extracorporeal gas exchange, apneic hyperoxygenation, and total tubeless airway reconstruction. Haptoglobulin, plasmin–antiplasmin complex, P-selectin activation, and interleukin 6 were measured before, during, and after iLA use and 72 hours postoperatively. Results Fifteen consecutive patients (age, 42 ± 17 years) underwent elective (n = 7) or emergency (n = 8) reconstruction of the airway owing to a variety of disorders or defects. The iLA was left in place for 185 ± 61 minutes, diverted 1.70 ± 0.48 L/min of the cardiac output, and provided an arteriovenous carbon dioxide removal and oxygen transfer of 173 ± 94 and 144 ± 83 mL/min, respectively. The arterial oxygen tension/inspired oxygen fraction (314 ± 31 mm Hg), and arterial carbon dioxide tension (40 ± 6 mm Hg) remained stable throughout the entire operations. The following procedures were performed: redo slide tracheoplasties (n = 3), redo tracheoesophageal fistula repair (n = 1), sleeve lobectomies (n = 2), main carina reconstructions (n = 7), and anastomotic stenting and myocutaneous coverages (n = 2). Three patients required prolonged (9 ± 2 days) postoperative iLA support. Two (13%) patients died during the hospital stay. The use of iLA was associated with significant ( P Conclusions Data suggest that iLA provides complete intraoperative respiratory support in patients who cannot receive conventional intubation/ventilation without relevant effects on cellular trauma, coagulatory response, and inflammatory response.