The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in cases of near-fatal asthma (NFA) has increased, but the benefits and potential complications of this therapy have yet to be fully investigated. Cases were extracted from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry between March 1992 and March 2016. All patients with a diagnosis of asthma (according to the International Classification of Diseases 9th edition), who also received ECMO, were extracted. Exclusion criteria included patients who underwent multiple courses of ECMO; those who received ECMO for cardiopulmonary resuscitation or cardiac dysfunction; and those with another primary diagnosis, such as sepsis. We analyzed survival to hospital discharge, complications, and clinical factors associated with in-hospital mortality, in patients with severe life-threatening NFA requiring ECMO support. In total 272 patients were included. The mean time spent on ECMO was 176.4 hours. Ventilator settings, including rate, fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2), peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), and mean airway pressure, significantly improved after ECMO initiation (rate (breaths/min), 19.0 vs. 11.3, p < 0.001; FiO2 (%), 81.2 vs. 48.8, p < 0.001; PIP (cmH2O), 38.2 vs. 25.0, p < 0.001; mean airway pressure (cmH2O): 21.4 vs. 14.2, p < 0.001). In particular, driving pressure was significantly decreased after ECMO support (29.5 vs. 16.8 cmH2O, p < 0.001). The weaning success rate was 86.7%, and the rate of survival to hospital discharge was 83.5%. The total complication rate was 65.1%, with hemorrhagic complications being the most common (28.3%). Other complications included renal (26.8%), cardiovascular (26.1%), mechanical (24.6%), metabolic (22.4%), infection (16.5%), neurologic (4.8%), and limb ischemia (2.6%). Of the hemorrhagic complications, cannulation site hemorrhage was the most common (13.6%). Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, it was found that hemorrhage was associated with increased in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 2.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–8.24; p = 0.036). Hemorrhage-induced death occurred in four patients (1.5%). The most common reason for death was organ failure (37.8%). ECMO can provide adequate gas exchange and prevent lung injury induced by mechanical ventilation, and may be an effective bridging strategy to avoid aggressive ventilation in refractory NFA. However, careful management is required to avoid complications.

The impact of malnutrition on the outcome of hospitalized adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has not been fully investigated. This study evaluated the prevalence and prognostic significance of malnutrition in a Korean population with CAP. In total, 198 patients with CAP from November 2014 to September 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. We assessed the prevalence of malnutrition and the risk factors for 2-year mortality. Furthermore, we divided the patients into two groups: elderly (age ≥ 65 years, n = 131) and non-elderly (age < 65 years, n = 67). Subgroup analyses were performed in the elderly group through propensity score matching. The prevalence of malnutrition was 39.4%, and the proportion of patients with malnutrition was significantly higher (53.4% vs. 11.9%, p < 0.001) in the elderly group than in the non-elderly group. In-hospital mortality, 1-year mortality, and 2-year mortality rates were 4.5%, 19.2%, and 26.8%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that malnutrition (odds ratio [OR], 2.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39 to 4.60; p = 0.002) and the Charlson comorbidity index score (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.17 to 1.45; p < 0.001) were associated with 2-year mortality. Malnutrition was common and associated with a poor long-term outcome in patients with CAP, particularly the elderly. A routine nutritional assessment at admission is mandatory as a first step for appropriate nutritional therapy.