Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation for patients on ECMO

Impact of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation on Weaning of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (CaRe-ECMO): a Prospective Multidisciplinary Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Not applicable Interventional The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University · NCT05035797

This study is testing if a special exercise program can help critically ill patients on ECMO get off the machine sooner and feel better.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment366 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorThe First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Nanjing, Jiangsu)
Trial IDNCT05035797 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program in improving the weaning rate from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in critically ill patients. The trial involves 366 ECMO-supported patients who will be randomized into two groups: one receiving usual care along with the rehabilitation program, and the other receiving only usual care. The rehabilitation program includes various evidence-based techniques aimed at enhancing cardiovascular and respiratory function. The primary goal is to determine if this intervention can facilitate earlier weaning from ECMO support.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adults aged 18 and older who are receiving ECMO therapy and are stable enough to participate in rehabilitation after 72 hours.

Not a fit: Patients who are pregnant, using ECMO as a bridge to recovery or definitive treatment, or those enrolled in another trial may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve the weaning rates from ECMO, leading to better recovery outcomes for critically ill patients.

How similar studies have performed: While studies have shown that early rehabilitation can improve mechanical ventilation weaning rates, the specific application of this approach to ECMO weaning is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1) Aged 18yr or order 2) Eligible for receiving ECMO (veno-venous \[VV\] or veno-arterial \[VA\]) therapy 3) With mechanical ventilation 4) With stable condition and eligible for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation after 72 hours of ECMO 5) With no contraindications for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation 6) With a life expectancy of more than 3 days 7) Sign informed consent form by the guardian

Exclusion Criteria:

1) Pregnant 2) Use ECMO as a bridge to recovery or definitive treatment (e.g. lung transplantation or heart transplantation) 3) Enrolled in another trial previously

Where this trial is running

Nanjing, Jiangsu

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Critical IllnessExtracorporeal Membrane OxygenationCardiopulmonary RehabilitationWeaningMultidisciplinaryRandomized controlled trialOpen-label
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.