Nursing management of severe COVID-19 patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation combined with prone position ventilation

Abstract

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious lung injury in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This process often is difficult to reverse, eventually leading to the death of patients. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment can provide patients with cardiopulmonary function support and buy time for clinicians' treatment. However, some patients still suffer from poor oxygenation after ECMO treatment. At this time, nurses can change the patient's position to prone position to improve oxygenation level and promote sputum excretion. It is a great challenge for COVID-19 patients to change their postures while receiving ECMO treatment. This article provides suggestions for this process by reviewing our hospital's experience in treating severe COVID-19 patients.