Neurologic complications following acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are well described, however, information on the neurologic outcome regarding peripheral nervous system complications in critically ill ARDS patients, especially those who received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are lacking. In this prospective observational study 28 ARDS patients who survived after ECMO or conventional nonECMO treatment were examined for neurological findings. Nine patients had findings related to cranial nerve innervation, which differed between ECMO and nonECMO patients (p = 0.031). ECMO patients had severely increased patella tendon reflex (PTR) reflex levels (p = 0.027 vs. p = 0.125) as well as gastrocnemius tendon reflex (GTR) (p = 0.041 right, p = 0.149 left) were affected on the right, but not on the left side presumably associated with ECMO cannulation. Paresis (14.3% of patients) was only found in the ECMO group (p = 0.067). Paresthesia was frequent (nonECMO 53.8%, ECMO 62.5%; p = 0.064), in nonECMO most frequently due to initial trauma and polyneuropathy, in the ECMO group mainly due to impairments of N. cutaneus femoris lateralis (4 vs. 0; p = 0.031). Besides well-known central neurologic complications, more subtle complications were detected by thorough clinical examination. These findings are sufficient to hamper activities of daily living and impair quality of life and psychological health and are presumably directly related to ECMO therapy.
A Double-Edged Sword: Neurologic Complications and Mortality in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Therapy for COVID-19–Related Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome at a Tertiary Care Center