BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used to support cardiorespiratory function during pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). We report on outcomes and predictors of in-hospital mortality after ECMO used to support CPR (E-CPR). METHODS AND RESULTS: Outcomes for patients aged 7.17 (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.84) were associated with decreased odds of mortality. During ECMO, renal dysfunction (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.17 to 3.03), pulmonary hemorrhage (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.11 to 4.50), neurological injury (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.55 to 5.02), CPR during ECMO (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.42 to 6.58), and arterial blood pH <7.2 (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.23 to 4.06) were associated with increased odds of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: ECMO used to support CPR rescued one third of patients in whom death was otherwise certain. Patient diagnosis, absence of severe metabolic acidosis before ECMO support, and uncomplicated ECMO course were associated with improved survival.
Thiagarajan et al. (Tue,) studied this question.