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DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1571788
Long-Term Outcome of Inter-Hospital ECMO Transport for Severe Respiratory and Cardiac Failure
Introduction: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an established rescue treatment option for severe respiratory and cardiac failure limited to highly specialized facilities.
In hospitals lacking these structures, inter-hospital transportation is required for further patient management. Aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of a new developed inter-hospital transportation ECMO program.
Methods: Between December2011 and May 2015, twenty urgent patients in severe cardiogenic and/or respiratory failure were treated by means of ECMO support.
Results: Average support longed 10.35 days (range: 1–40 days). 16 patients got v-v ECMO-support and in 4 patients v-a ECMO was implanted. Indications for implantation were severe ARDS, TRALI, and cardiac failure due to myocardial infarction. 12 patients were successfully weaned from ECMO (60%). All 12 patients survived to hospital discharge (60%). Long-term follow-up revealed a survival rate of 55%. Average follow-up time was 24.6 months.
Conclusion: Emergency implantation of ECMO support in external institutions is feasible without any logistic or technical problems. Critically ill patients with severe ARDS or cardiogenic shock can be safely transported on ECMO support to regional ECMO centers with promising short- and long-term survival.