Work

Impact of extended eligibility criteria on survival after veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory cardiac arrest: a 8-year single-center study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Aim: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) may improve survival in refractory in- or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA/OHCA), yet optimal selection criteria remain uncertain. We aimed to report contemporary survival rates after VA-ECMO for cardiac arrest (E-CPR) and to explore prognostic significance of extended criteria in improving patient selection. Methods: We conducted an observational single-center study of patients treated with E-CPR from 2017 to 2024. Patients were stratified according to four extended inclusion criteria in favor of E-CPR (arterial pH > 6.8, lactate < 15 mmol/L, low-flow time < 100 min, signs of life during CPR). Primary outcome was 180-day survival. Results: < 0.05), with survival ranging from 21 % in patients meeting none or one criterion in favor of E-CPR to 56 % in those meeting all four. Conclusion: In this single-center cohort, we observed a 180-day survival rate of 38 % among patients treated with E-CPR for refractory cardiac arrest. Notably, our study suggests acceptable survival rates of 21 % even in patients with an adverse risk profile.

Source: Resuscitation Plus

DOI: 10.1016/j.resplu.2025.101084