Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Dec 2010
Outcome in patients who require venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support after cardiac surgery.
The authors analyzed hospital mortality in adult cardiac surgery patients who required postoperative venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for circulatory failure and identified perioperative patient variables associated with hospital mortality in these patients. ⋯ Venoarterial ECMO support after cardiac surgery was required in a small fraction of patients and was associated with very high hospital mortality; but among those requiring ECMO, mortality in these patients was lower in younger, nondiabetic patients with cardiogenic shock who had shorter CPB times. The mortality associated patient variables identified are not easily modifiable and do not appear sufficiently robust to define which patients should be selected for this potentially life-saving therapy.