Extracorporeal CO2 Removal With the Hemolung RAS for Mechanical Ventilation Avoidance During Acute Exacerbation of COPD

Exclusion Criteria

• •1. DNR/DNI order
• •2. Hemodynamic instability (mean arterial pressure \< 60 mmHg) despite infusion of vasoactive drugs
• •3. Acute coronary syndrome
• •4. Current presence of severe pulmonary edema due to Congestive Heart Failure
• •5. PaO2/FiO2 \< 120 mmHg on PEEP \>/= 5 cmH2O
• •6. Presence of bleeding diathesis or other contraindication to anticoagulation therapy
• •7. Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm3 not requiring daily transfusions to maintain platelet count above 100,000/mm3 at time of screening
• •8. Hemoglobin \>= 7.0 gm% not requiring daily transfusions to maintain hemoglobin count above 7.0 gm% at time of screening, and no active major bleeding
• •9. Unable to protect airway (e.g. unable to generate cough or clear secretions) or significant weakness or paralysis of respiratory muscles due to causes unrelated to acute exacerbation of COPD
• •10. Cerebrovascular accident, intracranial bleed, head injury or other neurological disorder likely to adversely affect ventilation or airway protection.
• •11. Hypersensitivity to heparin or history of previous heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT Type II)
• •12. Presence of a significant pneumothorax or bronchopleural fistula
• •13. Current uncontrolled, major psychiatric disorder
• •14. Current participation in any other interventional clinical study
• •15. Pregnant women (women of child bearing potential require a pregnancy test)
• •16. Neutropenic (absolute neutrophil count \< 1,00mm3, not transient) related to the presence or treatment of a malignancy; recent bone marrow transplant (within prior 8 months); current, uncontrolled AIDS.
• •17. Fulminant liver failure
• •18. Known vascular abnormality or condition which could complicate or prevent successful Hemolung Catheter insertion
• •19. Terminal patients not expected to survive current hospitalization
• •20. Requiring continuous home ventilation via a tracheostomyy
• •21. Any disease or condition that, in the judgment of the investigator, either places the subject at undue risk of complications from the Hemolung RAS device, or may reduce the subject's likelihood of benefitting from therapy with the Hemolung RASr