ECMO-Rehab
Early Rehabilitation in Patients on Extracorporeal
Membrane Oxygenation
Aim:
To evaluate the effect of early rehabilitation on disability in critically ill patients receiving ECMO. The effect of the intervention on mortality, health status, and function at 180 days will be evaluated, as well as cost-effectiveness.
Rationale:
The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has expanded dramatically in Australia and globally. Patients requiring ECMO are the sickest and most expensive patients in hospital, with mortality rates approaching 40%, and there is substantial need to transform their care and improve their outcomes. While life-saving in the short-term, it is typically associated with significant complications, including severe, prolonged neuromuscular weakness which is associated with increased mortality and reduced quality of life. Despite these consequences of ECMO, there are currently no interventions to reduce weakness and improve recovery for patients on ECMO. Early rehabilitation is an intervention with strong potential to reduce the development of neuromuscular weakness, and improve survival, recovery, and health related quality of life. Importantly, we have the appropriate infrastructure to test this intervention within a national registry (EXCEL Registry) at all ECMO centres in Australia.
Study Progress:
The study has ethical approval and is scheduled to commence recruitment in early 2022.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05003609
Funding:
The ECMO-Rehab Study is funded by the NHMRC of Australia’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) 2020 Cardiovascular Health Mission (MRF2007591).
Statistical Analysis Plan:
ECMO-Rehab Statistical Analysis Plan v0-1 - 24th June 2025