{
  "abstract": "Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a rescue therapy for severe COVID-19–related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). International datasets do not consistently report Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) separately. We aimed to assess mortality, clinical characteristics, and complications of ECMO-treated COVID-19 patients across the CEE region.\n\nMaterial/Methods: We conducted a systematic review with single-arm meta-analyses of observational studies. PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from January 2020 to August 2025 for studies reporting ECMO outcomes in adult (≥ 18 years) COVID-19 patients from CEE countries, with at least 10 ECMO-treated patients. Conference abstracts and overlapping cohorts were excluded. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251077593).\n\nResults: Twelve studies included 802 patients from 6 countries. Pooled in-hospital mortality was 65% (95% CI 0.57–0.72; I2 = 70.6%; 10 studies; n = 691), and ICU mortality was 61% (95% CI 0.47–0.74; I2 = 85.8%; 7 studies, n = 526). Country-level in-hospital mortality estimates were 54% for the Czech Republic and 76% for Poland but were descriptive because of the small number of studies and wide CIs. Mean pre-ECMO mechanical ventilation duration was 4.8 days (95% CI 3.7–5.8; I2 = 4.4%), ECMO duration was 17.8 days (95% CI 12.8–22.9; I2 = 79.8%), and ICU length of stay was 23.6 days (95% CI 7.5–39.7; I2 = 92.6%). Serious bleeding occurred in 40% (95% CI 22–61%; I2 = 85.7%). Certainty was very low for all pooled outcomes.\n\nConclusions: These CEE-specific estimates provide regional benchmarks, but substantial heterogeneity and very low certainty limit international comparisons and country-level interpretation. Standardized regional registries, prospective multicenter data, harmonized complication reporting, and long-term outcome assessment are needed.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, National Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Warsaw, Poland",
    "Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary",
    "Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic",
    "Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden",
    "Military Institute of Medicine – National Research Institute, Warsaw Poland",
    "Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Flór Ferenc Hospital, Kistarcsa, Hungary"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Konstanty Szułdrzyński",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2501-4727"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Miłosz Jankowski",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2828-571X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Zsolt Molnar",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1468-4058"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Jan Benes",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9783-9683"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Adam Piasecki",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5088-169X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Michał Matuszewski",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3467-1377"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Marcin Matuszewski",
      "orcid": "0009-0000-1994-0308"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Zoltán Ruszkai",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2469-7936"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Jakub Kletecka",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0409-4916"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Konrad Zuzda",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7312-1880"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kamil Adamczyk",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3714-0117"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cavkdnknzt7nj.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.12659/msm.954002",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13712479/",
  "id": "cavkdnknzt7nj",
  "issns": [
    "1234-1010",
    "1643-3750"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.12659/msm.954002",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Clinical Research"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2204|Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices"
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  "openalex": "W7204210846",
  "pdf_url": "https://medscimonit.com/download/inPress/idArt/954002",
  "pmcid": "PMC13712479",
  "pmid": "42908181",
  "published": "2026-10-22",
  "publisher": "International Scientific Information, Inc.",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cavkdnknzt7nj.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-31T12:23:02Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13712479",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.12659/msm.954002"
    }
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:F27",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Clinical Outcomes and Complications of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in Adult Patients With COVID-19 in Central and Eastern Europe: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis",
  "title_text": "Clinical Outcomes and Complications of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in Adult Patients With COVID-19 in Central and Eastern Europe: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-31T12:23:02Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cavkdnknzt7nj",
  "venue": "Medical Science Monitor: International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research",
  "versions": []
}