VV ECMO in severe ARDS: EOLIA trial results show benefit for patients

EOLIA, as an investigator initiated trial was largely sponsored and conducted by Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris. The trial was designed to determine the impact on survival of early and systematic installation of veno-venous (VV) ECMO in severe ARDS patients. 

Therefore, 249 patients were randomized in a protective ventilation arm with latest standard of care or the same treatment with addition of VV ECMO. However, 28 % of patients of the control group crossed over to the ECMO group as rescue therapy. 

Although the results of the two groups showed no statistical significant difference, the mortality in the ECMO group was 11 % less. “The 28 % rate of crossover among patients with refractory hypoxemia in the control group may have diluted the potential effect of ECMO”, the authors said.

Despite the trial has its limitations, the EuroELSO (Extracorporeal Life Support Organization) stated on their latest conference: “The results of the EOLIA trial were presented with a clear advantage for early ECMO compared to conventional care with late rescue ECMO in ARDS”.

The secondary endpoints also indicated a potential benefit of the ECMO treatment. Compared with the control group, ECMO patients had more days without renal replacement therapy and more days free from renal and cardiac failure. The occurrence of strokes was low in both treatment arms – whereas ischemic stroke events were even lower in the ECMO group. Furthermore, Harrington and Drazen, authors of an editorial criticized, that the focus was on the primary endpoint when the Data Safety Monitoring Board terminated the trial earlier for futility, but the possible secondary outcomes were neglected.

With a good patient selection and well trained medical staff, also non ECMO centres were able to provide a safe and effective extracorporeal treatment. A subgroup analysis of the trial showed no advantages of the patient cohort that was treated in ECMO centres compared to those starting the therapy in non-ECMO centres.

All in all, the EOLIA trial provides another element in better understanding the management of severe ARDS in adults. Despite the primary endpoint analysis did not reach significant difference, the trial data suggest indeed that early ECMO initiation has clinical benefits.

A methodological problem in this study is the crossover group, which makes the interpretation of the primary end point difficult. Additionally, the Data Safety Monitoring Board stopped the trial after enrollment of 249 patients (331 originally planned) for futility, because with crossover it was unlikely to reach the expected 20 % relative difference in mortality.

For further information: The EOLIA trial and two referring editorials were published in New England Journal of Medicine.

A.Combes et al., N Engl J Med 2018; 378:1965-1975 and D Harrington, JM Drazen, Board.. N Engl J Med 2018; 378(21):2031-2032)