Outcomes before and after implementation of a pediatric rapid-response extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program

Rapid-response extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (RR-ECMO) has been implemented at select centers to expedite cannulation for patients placed on ECMO during extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). In 2008, we established such a program and used it for all pediatric venoarterial ECMO initiations. This study was designed to compare outcomes before and after program implementation.

Between 2003 and 2011, 144 pediatric patients were placed on venoarterial ECMO. Records of patients placed on ECMO before (17 ECPR and 62 non-ECPR) or after (14 ECPR and 51 non-ECPR) RR-ECMO program implementation were retrospectively compared.

The peak performance of the ECMO team was assessed by measuring ECMO initiation times for the ECPR patient subgroup (n = 31). There was a shift toward more ECPR initiations achieved in less than 40 minutes (24% pre-RR-ECMO versus 43% RR-ECMO; p = 0.25) and fewer requiring more than 60 minutes (47% pre-RR-ECMO versus 21% RR-ECMO; p = 0.14) after program implementation, although these changes did not reach statistical significance. After multivariable risk adjustment, RR-ECMO was associated with a 52% reduction in neurologic complications for all patients (adjusted odds ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.23 to 0.98; p = 0.04), but the risk of in-hospital death remained unchanged (adjusted odds ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.50 to 1.99; p = 0.99).

Implementation of a pediatric RR-ECMO program for venoarterial ECMO initiation was associated with reduced neurologic complications but not improved survival during the first 3 years of program implementation. These data suggest that development of a coordinated system for rapid ECMO deployment may benefit both ECPR and non-ECPR patients, but further efforts are required to improve survival.