Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the 18 patients at study inclusion

Sex (male/female)

13/5

Age (years)

64 (57–76)

Body mass index (kg/m²)

28 (24–31)

SAPS II at admission

42 (39–45)

SOFA score at ECCO₂R insertion

6 (5–8)

PaO₂/FiO₂ (mmHg) at ECCO₂R initiation

117 (100–136)

Comorbidities, n (%)

 Arterial hypertension

6 (33.3)

 Chronic heart failure

6 (33.3)

 Diabetes

5 (27.8)

 Chronic renal impairment

2 (11.1)

 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

0 (0)

Cause of ARDS, n (%)

 Pneumonia

15 (83.3)

 Documented germs

12 (66.7)

 Influenza

7 (38.9)

 Others

5 (27.8)

 Pulmonary contusion

1 (5.5)

 Drug-induced pneumonia

1 (5.5)

 Neoplastic lung disease

1 (5.5)

Pre-ECCO₂R adjuvant therapy, n (%)

 Neuromuscular blockade

17 (94.4)

 Prone positioning

8 (44.4)

 Nitric oxide

0 (0)

 Recruitment maneuvers

0 (0)

 Time from ICU admission to ECCO₂R initiation (days)

2.5 (1–4)

 Time from intubation to ECCO₂R initiation (days)

2 (1–3.8)