Towards a proactive therapy utilizing the modern spectrum of extracorporeal life support: a single-centre experience

Background: We describe a single-centre experience of extracorporeal life support (ELS) for patients with severe and refractory cardiogenic shock, refractory cardiac arrest and severe respiratory failure. Methods: Between September 2007 and September 2012, 56 intra-hospital and 10 inter-hospital adult patients were supported. Results: The median ELS duration was 3 (0.9 - 6) days in venoarterial and 9.2 (7.4 - 24.4) days in venovenous supported patients. At hospital discharge and follow-up (12 and 40 months), survival among the respiratory (venovenous) patients and cardiac (venoarterial) patients was 84% and 38%, respectively. Survival in severe refractory cardiogenic shock patients was related to early initiation of ELS (8 hours) and increased pre-ELS pH and lactate levels were associated with death in all cardiomyopathy patients, independent of infarct size. Conclusions: Our results exemplify the benefits of ELS as a bridge to initial stabilization of critically ill patients. Potentially, the early application of ELS technology can lower mortality and morbidity in patients with a regressive pathology.