[China statistics of extracorporeal life support in 2017]

Objective: To investigate China statistics of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in 2017. Methods: The statistics data was collected by provincial coordinators assigned by Chinese Society of Extracorporeal Life Support in 2018, including cases, centers, and indications. Results: Two thousand eight hundred and twenty-six cases were reported by 233 ECLS centers. There was an increase of 129% in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cases and an increase of 64% in ECMO centers compared with that in 2016 (1 234 cases and 142 centers). ECMO cases was associated with regional per capita gross domestic product (GDP) positively (r=0.619, P<0.001). ECMO centers was associated with regional GDP (r=0.416, P=0.020) and regional per capita GDP positively (r=0.666, P<0.001) as well. Adult patients accounted for 86.6% of total ECMO cases. Pediatric and neonatal patients only accounted for 10.5% and 2.9%, respectively. Conclusions: There was a growth in ECLS cases and ECLS centers in China in 2017. The majority of ECLS cases and centers were in developed regions. The proportion of ECLS indications in China was in accordance with that in Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry gradually. The development of ECLS for critically ill patients still has a tremendous potential in China.