Abstract
To describe our experience in use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) as a rescue strategy in patients following cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A retrospective analysis was performed for patients (n = 101) who received ECLS after cardiorespiratory arrest between May 2001 and December 2014. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. In this cohort median (IQR) age was 56 (37-67) years, 53 (53%) were male, and 90 (89%) were Caucasian. Ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillations were the initial cardiac rhythm in 49 (48.5%) and asystole/pulseless electrical activity in 37 (36.8%). Median (IQR) time to initiation of extracorporeal support from arrest time was 72 (43-170) min. The median (IQR) duration of support was 100 (47-157) hours. Renal failure (66%) and bleeding (66%) were the two most commonly observed complications during ECLS support. The survival to hospital discharge was seen in 47 (47%) patients, and good neurologic outcome (mRs 0-3) was seen in 29%. Acidosis, lactate and continuous renal replacement therapy were independent predictors of mortality. The median (IQR) intensive care unit stay was 14 (4-28) days and hospital stay was 17 (4-35) days. Our institutional experience with ECLS as a rescue measure following cardiac arrest is associated with improvement in mortality, and favorable neurologic status at hospital discharge.
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