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    Interventional procedure overview of extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal for acute respiratory failure

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    Indications and current treatment

    Acute respiratory failure (when the lungs do not work effectively) is a life-threatening condition. It can cause hypoxia (abnormally low levels of oxygen in the blood), hypercapnia (abnormally high levels of CO2 in the blood), or a combination of both. ARDS is a severe type of acute respiratory failure. It can be caused by conditions including sepsis, pneumonia, respiratory viruses, chest trauma, inhalational injury, aspiration, and pancreatitis. The management of acute respiratory failure involves treating the underlying cause, and providing oxygen, NIV or MV.

    ECCO2R can be used in people with AHRF. The aim of ECCO2R is to lower levels of CO2 in the blood in people with acute respiratory failure, independently of the lungs. Lung-protective ventilation settings such as lower airway pressures and lower tidal volumes can be used to reduce the risk of ventilator-induced lung injury. However, using lung-protective settings can cause CO2 to rise, leading to negative effects. ECCO2R is used to reduce blood CO2 levels so that lung-protective ventilation settings can be maintained. This may improve the likelihood and speed of lung recovery.

    ECCO2R can be used in people with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure, which is most commonly caused by COPD, with the aim of reducing the need for intubation and MV. It may also reduce the length of time that a person has NIV.