Extracorporeal Carbon Dioxide Removal: From Pathophysiology to Clinical Applications; Focus on Combined Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

Lung-protective ventilation (LPV) with low tidal volumes can significantly increase the survival of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) by limiting ventilator-induced lung injuries. However, one of the main concerns regarding the use of LPV is the risk of developing hypercapnia and respiratory acidosis, which may limit the clinical application of this strategy. This is the reason why different extracorporeal CO(2) removal (ECCO(2)R) techniques and devices have been developed. They include low-flow or high-flow systems that may be performed with dedicated platforms or, alternatively, combined with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). ECCO(2)R has demonstrated effectiveness in controlling PaCO(2) levels, thus allowing LPV in patients with ARDS from different causes, including those affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Similarly, the suitability and safety of combined ECCO(2)R and CRRT (ECCO(2)R–CRRT), which provides CO(2) removal and kidney support simultaneously, have been reported in both retrospective and prospective studies. However, due to the complexity of ARDS patients and the limitations of current evidence, the actual impact of ECCO(2)R on patient outcome still remains to be defined. In this review, we discuss the main principles of ECCO(2)R and its clinical application in ARDS patients, in particular looking at clinical experiences of combined ECCO(2)R–CRRT treatments.