Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for patients with return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest owing to acute respiratory distress syndrome

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to determine the survival to hospital discharge of patients who were treated with venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for respiratory failure after cardiac arrest.

DESIGN: Retrospective chart review.

SETTING: University-affiliated tertiary care hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised 21 patients.

INTERVENTIONS: Implementation of VV ECMO in patients with return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest owing to respiratory insufficiency.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The most common etiology of arrest was pneumonia-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (8/21 [38%]). Overall, 12/21(57%) patients survived to hospital discharge. Two of 12 (17%) patients required hemodialysis upon discharge.

CONCLUSION: VV ECMO may be an appropriate alternative to venoarterial ECMO in select patients with return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest owing to profound respiratory failure.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health