Respiratory illness season can strain even the most prepared hospitals. From RSV and influenza to bacterial pneumonia, these illnesses fill ICUs and stretch critical care resources.
As highlighted by the American Medical Association, the rise in pneumonia cases, especially among children, was particularly of concern this year.
“Walking pneumonia is spreading rapidly among young children. Children’s hospitals are continuing to feel the strain,” said Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, in a AMA podcast at the time.
But respiratory illnesses can present challenges year-round.
Severe illnesses – especially pneumonia – can escalate quickly, requiring life-saving interventions like Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). UC Davis Children’s Hospital recently supported a 17-year-old patient on ECMO for 10 days after bacterial pneumonia led to acute respiratory distress syndrome.
For critical care teams, staying ahead is essential. Transonic’s flow measurement technology supports ECMO teams by providing precise, real-time data to optimize patient care during these high-stakes moments.
The Challenge: Managing Severe Respiratory Cases
Surges in respiratory illnesses present a host of challenges:
- Increased Emergency Room Visits and ICU Admissions
- Risk of Respiratory Failure
- Resource Constraints
In severe respiratory cases, having the right tools to monitor and manage ECMO performance can make all the difference.
How ECMO and Real-Time Data Make a Difference
ECMO success relies on precision – and that’s where real-time data comes in.
Oxygenator Blood Volume (OXBV) measurements are a valuable tool for ECMO teams during respiratory illness surges. OXBV provides real-time insights into the clot burden of the oxygenator by monitoring blood flow through the oxygenator compartment.
This allows care teams to:
- Detect Changes Early: Identify changes in oxygenator performance before complications arise.
- Plan Proactive Interventions: Use OXBV trending data to time oxygenator exchanges and avoid emergency change-outs.
- Ensure Optimal Oxygen Delivery: Maintain oxygenator efficiency to meet the needs of high-acuity patients.
Supporting Teams When It Matters Most
Respiratory illness surges are unpredictable, but your ECMO program doesn’t have to be.
The Transonic ELSA® Monitor simplifies OXBV measurement with non-invasive sensors, real-time trending graphs and a portable design. With OXBV measurements and real-time insights, critical care teams can confidently manage severe cases, prevent unnecessary complications and focus on what matters most – saving lives.
