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Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Lung Rapid Recovery Procurement Combined with Abdominal Normothermic Regional Perfusion in Controlled Donation after Circulatory Death
Published on: August 15, 2022
[Good long-term survival after ECMO treatment]
Viktor von Bahr1, Johan Fridén2, Håkan Kalzén3
1Doktorand institutionen för fysiologi och farmakologi - Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, Sweden Doktorand institutionen för fysiologi och farmakologi - Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, Sweden.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) offers high survival rates for patients with respiratory failure. Long-term survival remains strong across all age groups, particularly for those surviving the critical initial period post-treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Pediatric Care
Background:
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingly utilized globally, with over 60,000 patients treated.
- The ECMO Center Karolinska has extensive experience, treating over 900 patients since 1987.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the short- and long-term survival rates of patients treated with ECMO.
- To analyze survival across different age categories and identify prognostic factors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 217 consecutive patients of all ages treated between 1995 and 2005.
- Mean follow-up duration of 7.9 years.
Main Results:
- Overall survival rate was 76% for all patients.
- For patients surviving over 90 days, 91% were alive at 5-year follow-up, with similar rates across age groups (89-93%).
- The highest mortality risk was concentrated in the initial months following ECMO initiation.
Conclusions:
- ECMO demonstrates high short- and long-term survival rates across all age groups, considering the severity of eligible patients.
- Further research is warranted to explore long-term prognostic markers, cognitive outcomes, and quality of life, especially in adult populations.
