Perioperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in liver transplantation—bridge to transplantation, intraoperative salvage, and postoperative support: outcomes and predictors for survival in a large-volume liver transplant center

Data on perioperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in liver transplantation (LT) are scarce. ECMO has been used preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively for a variety of indications at our center. This retrospective, single-center study of ECMO use peri-LT aimed to describe predictors for successful outcome in this highly select cohort of patients. Demographics, support method, and indication for LT were compared between survivors and nonsurvivors. Twenty-nine patients received venovenous (V-V; n = 20), venoarterial (V-A; n = 8), and venoarteriovenous (n = 1) ECMO. Twelve (41.4%) patients were bridged to emergency LT for acute liver failure, and emergency redo LT. Four (13.3%) patients required intraoperative V-A ECMO salvage, 2 necessitating extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Thirteen (43.3%) patients required ECMO support after LT: V-V ECMO (n = 9); V-A ECMO (n = 1); and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (n = 3) between postoperative days 2 to 30. Overall, 19 patients (65.5%) were successfully weaned off ECMO; 15 (51.7%) survived to intensive care unit discharge. All patients who underwent intraoperative salvage ECMO and all who were bridged to emergency redo LT died. Peri-LT ECMO is feasible. Post-LT ECMO outcomes are encouraging, in particular for V-V ECMO. Intraoperative ECMO salvage, uncontrolled sepsis, and graft failure are associated with poor outcomes.