Acute cardiac care & resuscitationResearch article
Scrutinizing the Role of Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Has Clinical Practice Outpaced the Evidence?
- Narrative review
Authors' conclusion
Pending further data to refine patient selection and management recommendations for VA-ECMO, it remains uncertain whether the present usage of this device improves outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- Patients receiving venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) (venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) for temporary mechanical circulatory support, including OHCA and infarct-related cardiogenic shock
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Evidence on VA-ECMO benefit in OHCA and infarct-related cardiogenic shock (narrative review of RCTs)
- ARREST trial and a secondary analysis of PRAGUE OHCA provided some evidence in favour of VA-ECMO in OHCA
- INCEPTION trial: no relevant improvement of short-term mortality with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- ECLS-SHOCK and ECMO-CS trials discourage routine VA-ECMO in infarct-related cardiogenic shock
Original publication
Scrutinizing the Role of Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Has Clinical Practice Outpaced the Evidence? Circulation. Published 25 March 2024. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.123.067087
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it