ECMO for COVID-19 patients in Europe and Israel
As of October 17th the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) caused a pandemic disease (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19) 40 million people worldwide, with almost one million deaths [1]. Although most patients have an uncomplicated clinical course, the more severe forms of COVID-19 require hospitalization and intensive care unit admission [2]. Conventional high-flow oxygen therapy, non-invasive and/or invasive mechanical ventilation, often in combination with pronepositioning, have all been reported to be effective in the majority of patients [2].