Table 2.
Complications requiring intervention during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in the 30 day survivors and non‐survivors, and causes of death for venoarterial and venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation shown separately
| Complications requiring intervention during ECMO support in the 30 day survivors and non‐survivors, and causes of death | Survived VA n = 29 18 men Age 42 (0–73) | Died n = 35 25 men Age 54 (2–76) | Survived VV n = 5, 4 men Age 50 (22–68) | Died n = 5 1 man Age 44 (18–57) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical complications | ||||
| Cannula problems | 24% (7) | 26% (9) | 20% (1) | 20% (1) |
| Other | 14% (4) | 6% (2) | 20% (1) | 40% (2) |
| Patient related complications | ||||
| Haemorrhagic | ||||
| GI haemorrhage | 24% (7) | 9% (3) | 20% (1) | 20% (1) |
| Cannulation site bleeding | 52% (15) | 49% (17) | 20% (1) | 40% (2) |
| Surgical site bleeding | 14% (4) | 29% (10) | 20% (1) | 20% (1) |
| Haemolysis (plasma Hgb > 50 mg/dL) | 3% (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DIC | 7% (2) | 3% (1) | 0 | 0 |
| Central nervous systema | ||||
| Infarction | 7% (2) | 11% (4) | 0 | 0 |
| Haemorrhage | 0 | 6% (2) | 0 | 0 |
| Brain death | 0 | 9% (3) | 0 | 0 |
| Renal | ||||
| 1.5 < creatinine < 3.0 mg/L | 45% (13) | 40% (14) | 20% (1) | 0 |
| Creatinine > 3 mg/L | 14% (4) | 17% (6) | 0 | 20% (1) |
| Haemodialysis | 28% (8) | 37% (13) | 0 | 40% (2) |
| Haemofiltration | 10% (3) | 29% (10) | 20% (1) | 20% (1) |
| CAVHD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20% (1) |
| Pulmonary | ||||
| Pneumothorax | 7% (2) | 6% (2) | 0 | 0 |
| Pulmonary haemorrhage | 10% (3) | 17% (6) | 0 | 20% (1) |
| Cardiopulmonary | ||||
| Inotropes on ECLS | 52% (15) | 83% (29) | 80% (4) | 80% (4) |
| Myocardial stunning by echocardiography | 17% (5) | 26% (9) | 0 | 0 |
| Hypertension requiring vasodilator | 14% (4) | 9% (3) | 0 | 0 |
| Tamponade: blood | 17% (5) | 20% (7) | 0 | 0 |
| CPR required | 10% (3) | 11% (4) | 0 | 0 |
| Cardiac arrhythmia | 31% (9) | 57% (20) | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 3% (1) | 6% (2) | 0 | 0 |
| Infectious | ||||
| Culture proven new infection | 24% (7) | 20% (7) | 0 | 0 |
| WBC < 1500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20% (1) |
| Metabolic | ||||
| Glucose < 40 mg/L | 7% (2) | 20% (7) | 0 | 0 |
| Glucose > 240 mg/L | 3% (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| pH < 7.20 | 24% (7) | 43% (15) | 20% (1) | 40% (2) |
| pH > 7.6 | 7% (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hyperbilirubinaemia | 21% (6) | 31% (11) | 0 | 40% (2) |
| Lower extremity | ||||
| Limb ischaemia | 0 | 3% (1) | 0 | 0 |
| Compartment syndrome | 0 | 3% (1) | 0 | 0 |
| Fasciotomy | 0 | 6% (2) | 0 | 0 |
| Amputation | 3% (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Causes of death | ||||
| Irreversible organ failure | 46% (16) | 20% (1) | ||
| Cardiac | 38% (6) | |||
| CNS | 38% (6) | |||
| Pulmonary | 20% (1) | |||
| Other organ | 25% (4) | |||
| Multiorgan failure | 34% (12) | 80% (4) | ||
| Haemorrhage | 3% (1) | |||
| Not registered | 17% (6) |
All but one early death occurred within 30 days.
CAVHD, continuous arteriovenous haemodialysis; DIC, disseminated intravascular coagulation; ECLS, extracorporeal life support; GI, gastrointestinal; Hgb, haemoglobin; WBC, white blood cell.
a
As verified by computed tomography.