Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in life-threatening asthma unresponsive to mechanical ventilation: a comparison of patient demographics and outcomes between a large London-based intensive care unit and an international registry

According to the British Thoracic Society (BTS) guidelines,1 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be considered in near-fatal asthma exacerbations refractory to conventional ventilator treatment. However, there is currently no clear criteria for accepting such patients for ECMO treatment. The comparison of local data to an internationally established database would lead to a better insight into optimal criteria for the commencement of ECMO treatment.