Early venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation improves outcomes in post-cardiotomy shock

Post-cardiotomy shock (PCS) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. We reviewed our 12-year experience of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) therapy for PCS. Between July 2007 and June 2018, 156 consecutive patients underwent VA-ECMO for PCS. We retrospectively investigated patient characteristics, indications, and management to determine factors affecting outcomes. Secondary analysis was performed by dividing the cohort into Era 1 (2007–2012, n = 52) and Era 2 (2013–2018, n = 104) for comparison. After a median of 4.70 days (interquartile range [IQR] 2.76–8.53) of ECMO support, 72 patients (46.1%) survived to discharge. In-hospital mortality decreased in Era 2 from 75 to 43.3% (P < 0.001). Survivors were cannulated at lower serum lactate (5.3 [IQR 2.8–8.2] versus 7.5 [4.7–10.7], P = 0.003) and vasoactive-inotropic score (22.7 [IQR 11.3–35.5] versus 28.1 [IQR 20.8–42.5], P = 0.017). Patients in Era 2 were more frequently cannulated intraoperatively (63.5% versus 34.6%, P = 0.002), earlier in their hospital course, and at lower levels of serum lactate and vasoactive-inotropic score than in Era 1. Independent risk factors for mortality included increased age (odds ratio [OR] 1.06, P = 0.002), serum lactate at cannulation (OR 1.17, P = 0.009), and vasoactive-inotropic score (OR 1.04, P = 0.009). Bleeding and limb ischemia were less common in Era 2. Overall, outcomes of ECMO for PCS improved over the study period. The survival benefit appears to be associated with earlier ECMO initiation before prolonged hypoperfusion occurs.