32: Experience of the Implementation of the First Moroccan ECMO Center

Introduction: The Mohammed VI University Hospital in Oujda established Morocco’s first Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) center in 2020. The center was developed to manage severe cases of respiratory and cardiac failure, with a fully trained medical team, including nurse anesthetists assisting in the absence of perfusionists. We aim to describe the implementation and outcomes of the first ECMO center in Morocco. Methods and Results: Since 2020, 42 patients have been treated, with a median age of 54 years. Of those patients, 34 received Veno-Venous ECMO, mainly for COVID-19-induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), and 8 received Veno-Arterial ECMO for cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. Median pre-ECMO PaO2/FiO2 was 52 mmHg, with PIP at 36 cmH2O and SOFA score of 11. At ECMO Day 1, improvements in ventilatory parameters included a PIP of 31 cmH2O, a PaO2/FiO2 of 163 mmHg, and reduced PaCO2. Eleven patients were successfully decannulated, although 8 later succumbed to infections. Complications included acute renal injury (17 patients), infections (14 patients), and minor bleeding episodes (10 patients). Conclusions: ECMO is a promising therapy in selected patients, but it requires a highly trained team and well-established protocols. The Oujda ECMO center aims to become Morocco’s leading referral center for ECMO.