Table 3.
Results—red cell transfusion rates.
| Variable | Finding (95% Confidence Range) | Number of Papers (Patients) Included | Cochrane’s Q Test | I2 Test of Heterogeneity | p-Value for Comparison | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECMO Modality | PRBC Units/Run or PRBC Units/Day | |||||
| Whole ECMO run | All patients | 17.7 (14.2–21.2) | 52 (3452) | 2816 | 98% | |
| VA patients only | 18.3 (14.2–22.4) | 24 (2043) | 1207 | 98% | 0.85 | |
| VV patients only | 19.3 (10.4–28.1) | 9 (309) | 95 | 90% | ||
| Per ECMO day | All patients | 2.60 (1.93–3.27) | 49 (3619) | 3643 | 99% | |
| VA patients only | 3.86 (2.51–5.22) | 23 (1933) | 1519 | 99% | <0.001 | |
| VV patients only | 1.23 (0.89–1.57) | 12 (665) | 292 | 96% | ||
| ECMO indication | PRBC units/day | |||||
| Postcardiotomy | 5.56 (2.20–8.93) | 8 (1078) | 1235 | 99% | 0.04 | |
| Nonsurgical | 1.93 (1.26–2.59) | 25 (1309) | 730 | 97% | ||
| Peripheral cannulation rate | PRBC units/day | |||||
| Greater than 90% | 1.74 (1.24–2.25) | 29 (2031) | 1223 | 98% | 0.02 | |
| Less than 90% | 4.53 (2.31–6.76) | 13 (1220) | 793 | 99% | ||
| Membrane type | PRBC units/day | |||||
| Polymethylpentene only | 2.11 (1.49–2.73) | 32 (2113) | 1643 | 98% | 0.11 | |
| Silicon, polypropylene or mixed | 4.46 (1.68–7.24) | 11 (895) | 578 | 98% | ||
| Survival status (median 51.2%) | PRBC units/day | |||||
| Above median | 1.65 (1.08–2.23) | 19 (1295) | 965 | 98% | 0.001 | |
| Below median | 3.82 (2.23–5.42) | 19 (1565) | 1417 | 99% | ||
| Major bleeding (median 30%) | PRBC units/day | |||||
| Above median | 1.83 (1.14–2.52) | 7 (336) | 137 | 96% | 0.99 | |
| Below median | 1.84 (0.90–2.78) | 8 (290) | 210 | 97% | ||
| Upper aPTT target (median 60s) | PRBC units/day | |||||
| Above median | 2.76 (1.87–3.65) | 8 (585) | 115 | 94% | 0.34 | |
| Below median | 1.98 (0.64–3.32) | 11 (1164) | 409 | 98% | ||
| Upper ACT target (median 180s) | PRBC units/day | |||||
| Above median | 2.87 (1.57–4.16) | 8 (343) | 602 | 99% | 0.92 | |
| Below and including median | 2.95 (2.02–3.88) | 14 (842) | 301 | 96% | ||
| Transfusion trigger (median 9.3 g/dL) | PRBC units/day | |||||
| Above and including median | 2.39 (1.67–3.10) | 15 (986) | 758 | 98% | 0.005 | |
| Below median | 1.41 (0.86–1.97) | 13 (797) | 388 | 97% | ||
PRBC: units of packed red blood cells, VA—venoarterial, VV—venovenous.