Combined advances in haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and intensive care
management have improved the survival of patients with haematological malignancies
admitted to the intensive care unit. In cases of refractory respiratory failure or
refractory cardiac failure, these advances have led to a renewed interest in advanced
life support therapies, such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), previously
considered inappropriate for these patients due to their poor prognosis. Given the
scarcity of evidence-based guidelines on the use of ECMO in patients receiving HCT
and the need to provide equitable and sustainable access to ECMO, the European Society
of Intensive Care Medicine, the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization, and the
International ECMO Network aimed to develop an expert consensus statement on the use
of ECMO in adult patients receiving HCT.