Remote ECLS-Implantation and Transport for Retrieval of Cardiogenic Shock Patients

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) emerges as a salvage option in therapy refractory cardiogenic shock but is limited to highly specialized tertiary care centers. Critically ill patients are often too unstable for conventional transport. Mobile ECLS programs for remote implantation and subsequent air or ground-based transport for patient retrieval could solve this dilemma and make full-spectrum advanced cardiac care available to patients in remote hospitals in whom shock otherwise might be fatal.

From December 2012 to March 2016, 40 patients underwent venoarterial ECLS implantation in remote hospitals with subsequent transport to our center and were retrospectively analyzed. The mobile ECLS team was available 24/7, implantation was performed percutaneously bedside, and compact support systems designed for transport were used.

Twenty percent of the patients were female; the mean age was 55 ± 10 years, and the mean Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support score was 1.3 ± 0.5. Patient retrieval was accomplished via ground-based (n = 29, 72.5%, mean distance = 27.9 ± 29.7 km [range, 5.6-107.1 km]) or air (n = 11, mean distance = 62.4 ± 27.2 km [range, 38.9-116.4 km]) transport. No ECLS-related complications occurred during transport. The ECLS system could be explanted in 65.0% (n = 26) of patients, and the 30-day survival rate was 52.5% (n = 21).

Remote ECLS implantation and interfacility transport on ECLS are feasible and effective. Interdisciplinary teams and full-spectrum cardiac care are essential to achieve optimal outcomes. Rapid-response ECLS networks have the potential to substantially increase the survival of cardiogenic shock patients.