A novel respiratory dialysis system removes carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the blood, facilitating lung rest, protection, and recovery for patients suffering from acute respiratory failure.

The Hemolung Respiratory Assist System (RAS) uses low-flow extracorporeal CO2 removal technology to avoid or reduce the need for intubation and ventilator support in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other respiratory diseases. A single catheter is used to remove up to 50% of retained CO2 from the blood, whilst at the same time delivering oxygen directly to the patient's blood via the femoral or jugular veins.

Since the device eliminates the need for intubation, sedation, and tracheostomies, patients benefit from a reduced length of stay, reduced ventilator assisted pneumonia (VAP), reduced airway wall damage, and elimination of the ventilator weaning period. The Hemolung RAS is a product of ALung Technologies (Pittsburgh, PA, USA), and has received an expedited access pathway (EAP) designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). EAP was created to facilitate patient access to breakthrough technologies intended to treat or diagnose life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions.

“This action by the FDA means that the agency recognizes the unmet need for a device such as the Hemolung RAS to help avoid intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation in COPD patients with respiratory failure due to retention of carbon dioxide,” said Nicholas Hill, MD, chief of the pulmonary, critical care, and sleep division at Tufts Medical Center (Boston, MA, USA). “This technology has the potential to manage such patients with fewer complications and more comfort, something that awaits proof in a properly designed clinical trial which the EAP designation will help facilitate.”

COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Acute exacerbations, defined as a sudden worsening of COPD symptoms, are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients, resulting from high levels of CO2 that can induce in respiratory failure and the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation as life saving measures. Unfortunately, mechanical ventilation is associated with many deleterious side effects and in-hospital mortality remains as high as 30%.

Related Links:
ALung Technologies
Tufts Medical Center