Faculty Collaboration Database

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support in Postcardiotomy Elderly Patients: The Mayo Clinic Experience. Ann Thorac Surg 2015 Jun;99(6):2053-60

Date

04/14/2015

Pubmed ID

25865760

DOI

10.1016/j.athoracsur.2014.11.075

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84930928674 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   71 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We conducted a retrospective study to assess whether providing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support to elderly patients (aged 70 years or more) who failed separation from cardiopulmonary bypass after cardiac surgery was a viable option.

METHODS: From 2003 to 2013, 45 patients aged 70 years or more underwent 47 runs of ECMO postoperatively.

RESULTS: There were 31 men (68.9%). The mean age was 76.8 years. Five patients were in cardiogenic shock preoperatively. Forty-four patients required venoarterial ECMO support for cardiogenic shock. Mean duration of support was 103.8 ± 74.3 hours. Twenty-one patients (46.6%) died while on ECMO support. Twenty-four patients (53.3%) were weaned off ECMO initially, and 11 patients were discharged from hospital. Inhospital mortality was 75.6%. Postoperative complications included acute kidney injury in 30 patients (44.4%), pneumonia in 12 (26.7%), and sepsis in 11 (24.4%). There were 30 deaths (88.2%) attributable to cardiac causes. Preoperative atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney injury, lactic acidosis on ECMO support, and persistent coagulopathy were associated with higher mortality.

CONCLUSIONS: Postcardiotomy ECMO support in elderly patients is associated with high postoperative morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, it often provides the last line of therapy for these critically ill patients and may provide positive outcomes in selected subgroups.

Author List

Saxena P, Neal J, Joyce LD, Greason KL, Schaff HV, Guru P, Shi WY, Burkhart H, Li Z, Oliver WC, Pike RB, Haile DT, Schears GJ

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aged
Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Heart Diseases
Hospital Mortality
Humans
Male
Minnesota
Postoperative Care
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
Survival Rate
Treatment Failure