Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for cardiogenic shock: a retrospective analysis based on the etiology of shock

Background We performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate the efficacy of VA-ECMO support in cardiogenic shock based on various etiologies. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 99 patients supported with VA-ECMO from January 1, 2012 to January 1, 2015. Outcomes included survival to discontinuation of VA-ECMO support and survival to hospital discharge. The etiologies of cardiogenic shock included cardiac arrest (CPR), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF), pulmonary embolism (PE), right ventricular failure (RVF) not secondary to an acute pulmonary embolism, and post-cardiotomy syndrome (PCS). The PCS group was used as a reference group; odds ratios were estimated and Fisher’s exact tests were performed to compare each other group to the reference. Results Patients supported with VA-ECMO due to PE and CHF had better survival to hospital discharge (83.3% and 54.2%, with p = 0.003 and p = 0.011, respectively) versus the PCS group (7.7%). The PE, CHF, and AMI groups had statistically improved survival to VA-ECMO discontinuation. There was no statistically significant difference in survival to VA-ECMO discontinuation or hospital discharge in four subgroup analyses. Conclusions Patients supported with VA-ECMO in cardiogenic shock due to PE or CHF demonstrated increased rates of survival to hospital discharge when compared to the PCS group. This study also highlights the need for a more uniform system of categorizing etiologies of cardiogenic shock.