ECCO2R in the Treatment of Acute Exacerbation of COPD With Severe Hypercapnia

Patients with moderate to severe acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are often complicated with hypercapnia and respiratory failure, so they need to be admitted to ICU for monitoring and respiratory support treatment. Noninvasive ventilation has become the first-line respiratory support for the treatment of AECOPD with hypercapnia and respiratory failure. However, 26-54% of AECOPD patients with hypercapnia and respiratory failure eventually fail to receive noninvasive ventilation and need endotracheal intubation and invasive ventilation to maintain effective gas exchange. For these patients, the in-hospital survival rate is only 31-76%, and the prognosis is poor. In AECOPD patients with high risk of noninvasive ventilation failure and expected need of intubation, timely giving other ways of respiratory support to reduce blood CO2 may avoid patients receiving tracheal intubation and invasive ventilation, thus avoiding related complications and adverse prognosis. As a new type of respiratory support technology, ECCO2R is worthy of attention in monitoring and evaluation of support effect in AECOPD patients with respiratory failure. It is urgent that ECCO2R can effectively alleviate respiratory failure, avoid complications related to tracheal intubation, improve quality of life and reduce mortality.