Abstract 117: Critical Care Management, Hospital Case Volume, and Survival After Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Abstract

Introduction: For patients who receive extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), the relationship between post-resuscitation management and survival is unknown. Additionally, it is not known if management varies between centers, and if this variation and hospital case volume, are associated with survival. Hypothesis: There is center level variability in post-resuscitation management for ECPR patients. This variability, and hospital annual case volume, are associated with survival. Methods: We performed an observational study of 4,296 adults who received ECPR from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry from 2014 until 2019. We examined clinical variables within the first 24 hours after arrest, and hospital annual ECPR volume. The primary outcome was case-mix adjusted survival at hospital discharge, adjusting for factors previously associated with survival after cardiac arrest or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Mixed effects regression models were used to account for clustering of outcomes by center. Case volume was stratified into low (<6 cases/year), medium (6-12 cases/year) and high (>12 cases/year). Results: Patient-level clinical variables after cardiac arrest, varied widely across individual hospitals, including the use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), mechanical venting of the left ventricle, and the use of inotropic medications. Increased ECMO circuit blood flow at 4 hours was associated with survival (OR 1.14 per liter per minute of flow [95% CI 1.04 to 1.24];p=0.004). After 24 hours of ECMO, increased arterial pulsatility (OR 1.44 [95% CI 1.32 to 1.58]; p<0.001), the placement of a distal perfusion catheter (OR 1.79 [95% CI 1.19 to 2.67]; p=0.005), and the placement of a mechanical left ventricular vent (OR 1.37 [95% CI 1.07 to 1.76]; p=0.012) were all significantly associated with survival. There was a nonsignificant association of the use of PCI after ECMO cannulation with survival (OR 1.31 [95% CI 0.998 to 1.91]; p=0.051). High case volume was not associated with survival (OR 1.32 [95% CI 0.98 to 1.78];p=0.072). Conclusions: Clinical management of ECPR patients varies across hospitals. These clinical variables and therapies are associated with survival, however center volume is not.