Abstract
ObjectivesTo assess symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and health related quality of life in a sample of adult patients treated with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Design and settingThis is a cross-sectional study. The population were all patients discharged (2008–2018) from a thoracic surgical intensive ward at a tertiary university hospital in Norway. A sample of 20 patients was recruited. Main outcome measuresSymptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder were assessed using Impact of Events Scale-Revised, while symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RAND 36-Item Short Form Health Survey was applied to measure health-related quality of life. ResultsSymptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder were reported by 40% of the participants. Twenty percent reported symptoms of depression and anxiety. Compared to the general population, participants reported poorer health-related quality of life on all domains, and significantly worse on the domains physical function, general health and social function. ConclusionPatients in our study reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and impaired health-related quality of life following treatment with veno-arterial extra corporeal membrane oxygenation. Addressing possible emotional and psychological distress could represent a potential major improvement in health care provided to this group. Further research is needed to incorporate prophylactic methods, such as identifying vulnerable patients and implement corresponding interventions, into clinical practice.
Highlights
Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) is a highly effective therapy given to critically ill patients requiring temporary cardiac and/or respiratory support
To assess symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and health related quality of life in a sample of adult patients treated with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
This study reports of impaired health-related quality of life and increased prevalence of self-reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression after veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment
Summary
Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) is a highly effective therapy given to critically ill patients requiring temporary cardiac and/or respiratory support. Among patients treated with ECMO, approximately 40 percent survives to discharge from hospital (Extracorporeal Life Support Organization, 2019). The majority of studies on longterm outcome of ECMO-treatment has focused mainly on survival rates and somatic health variables. The unique risk factors associated with ECMO-treatment, can affect patients in a longer time span and on domains other than survival and ‘‘pure” somatic health, resulting in potential impaired quality of life and mental health for the survivors (Roll et al, 2018; Spangenberg et al, 2018). Research that increases knowledge about patient-reported outcomes, in this case following VA ECMO-treatment, may contribute to the development of measures that prevent long-term complications, and improves overall health status after discharge from hospital
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