MobilECMO: Implementing Early Mobilization for Improved Outcomes in ECMO Patients in a Tertiary Hospital, Saudi Arabia

BackgroundExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is pivotal in managing severe respiratory or cardiac failure.Recommendations highlight the importance of maintaining wakefulness and mobility to minimize sedation reliance and prolonged mechanical ventilation.Early mobilization during ECMO is reported to lower mortality rates, ICU and hospital length of stay, sedation needs, and mechanical ventilation duration.2/4/26, 2:36 PM ABSTRACTS ECMO -IJECMO2026 file:///C:/Users/Prabhat Shukla.DESKTOP-6HO8CNO/Downloads/Page Proof/IJECMO-4(S1)-html/IJECMO-4(S1)-html/IJECMO-4(S1)/4/S(1)/10.5 1/3Results 41 ECMO patients were enrolled in the program in 2024 so far.As compared to 76 ECMO patients in 2023, there was a reduction in ICU length of stay, ventilator days, and ICU mortality.However, the differences did not reach statistical significance, probably because of the small sample size (Table 1 and Fig. 1). ConclusionsImplementing a comprehensive Early Mobilization Program for ECMO may improve patients' outcomes, results need to be confirmed in larger studies.The success of the program is contingent upon the support of a multidisciplinary team within the ICU.