Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and Coronavirus Disease (COVID) 19
France761 participantsStarted 2020-04-21
Plain-language summary
The role of ECMO in the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19 (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and/or acute refractory heart failure) is not yet known. The present study will aim to report the results of the ECMO management of the most severe forms of COVID-19 through the first French ECMO registry.
Who can participate
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* All COVID-19 patients, adults or children,
* Tested positive by RT-PCR for SARS-CoV2 (nasopharyngeal swabs, sputum, endotracheal aspiration, bronchoalveolar lavage or stool sample) and / or with a diagnosis made on chest CT findings,
* Supported by venovenous or venoarterial ECMO
Exclusion Criteria:
* Temporary legally protected Adults over a set period or waiting for protection supervision, guardianship
* Patients or proxies who express their opposition to study participation
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial used ECMO — a machine that takes over heart and lung function — for COVID-19 patients with severe respiratory or heart failure. Can you explain whether ECMO would even be considered as an option in my situation, and what criteria doctors use to decide that?
2Since this study was completed and measured hospital mortality as its main outcome, has the data been published yet, and if so, what did it show about survival rates for patients on ECMO with COVID-19-related ARDS or heart failure?
3ECMO is a highly intensive intervention that requires specialized teams and equipment — is the hospital I'm being treated at equipped to provide it, and would I need to be transferred somewhere else if it became necessary?
4Before considering ECMO, what other treatments would typically be tried first for severe COVID-19-related lung or heart failure, and at what point would doctors decide those options weren't enough?
5Given that this trial has already been completed, could its findings directly influence the treatment decisions being made for me right now, and is my care team already applying what was learned from this research?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.