Refining an acute respiratory distress syndrome animal model supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenator

Liu, K., Fior, G., Obonyo, N., Nonaka, H., Milani, A., Abbate, G., Portatadino, S., Palmieri, C., Ijuin, S., Sato, K., Heinsar, S., Ro, S., Gandini, L., Hoshino, K., Sato, N., Farah, S., Ainola, C., Passmore, M., Panduru, R., Bouquet, M., Wilson, E., Hyslop, K., McInerney, M., Zhang, C., McGrath, C., Paech, J., Suen, J., Fraser, J., Li Bassi, G. Intensive Care Medicine Experimental DOI: 10.1186/s40635-026-00892-7

Abstract: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is associated with high mortality. One of the primary challenges in translating preclinical findings into effective clinical treatments lies in developing animal models that accurately replicate clinical scenarios. Thus, we aimed to develop a clinically relevant novel ovine model of severe ARDS with VV-ECMO support, with the primary aim of assessing feasibility through 48-h survival, while monitoring safety and clinical relevance.