Abstract 13945: Central Cannulation During Pediatric Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is Faster Than Peripheral Approaches

Abstract

Introduction: Favorable survivorship after pediatric extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) may be limited by prolonged resuscitations. Surgical cannulation metrics for pediatric ECPR have not been widely reported by centers that use time interval benchmarks with a cardiovascular service responding to different hospital locations. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that survival is associated with resuscitation duration, and cannulation duration differs between peripheral and central approaches. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study of patients 0-18 years with in-hospital ECPR between January 2015 and December 2020. Primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes were odds of favorable neurologic outcome (dichotomized pediatric cerebral performance category), total resuscitation duration defined as cardiac arrest start to ECMO flow start (CA-ECMO), and cannulation duration. Non-parametric and regression methods were used. Results: Of the 92 events that met ECPR criteria, median weight and age were 4 months (IQR 1 month, 16 years) and 4.4 kg (range 1.9-133 kg). Cannulation occurred in the cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) (66%, 61 of 92), followed by operating room (13%, 12 of 92), pediatric ICU (12%, 11 of 92), and catheterization lab (9%, 8 of 92). Central cannulation was performed in 43% (40 of 92), and 21% (19 of 92) had open chests at the time of the event. Median duration of CA-ECMO was 35 min (IQR 26, 45 min); cannulation duration was 11 min (IQR 5, 16.5 min) for central compared to 18.5 min (IQR 12, 23 min) for peripheral approaches (P=0.01). Survival was 40% (37 of 92), and favorable neurologic outcome occurred in 38% (35 of 92). Survival (adjusted OR, 0.94; 95% CI 0.91-0.99, P=0.018) and favorable neurologic outcome (adjusted OR, 0.95; 95% CI 0.917-1.000, P=0.053) were associated with CA-ECMO duration after adjusting for cannulation approach, location, difficulty, shockable rhythm, and weight. Conclusion: In pediatric in-hospital ECPR, total CA-ECMO duration remains a key metric associated with patient outcomes. Central cannulation is faster than peripheral approaches. Since cannulation strategy alters CPR maneuvers, CPR effectiveness with each approach needs further study.