Early de-cannulation from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation following ventricular tachycardia radiofrequency...

Ventricular tachycardia ablation (VTA) with hemodynamic compromise presents a challenge. Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support allows the safe completion of the procedure. There are limited data regarding the safety of weaning off VA-ECMO at the end of the procedure. We report our experience with early VA-ECMO de-cannulation after VTA.

All patients undergoing VA-ECMO-assisted VTA, between January 2013 and December 2020 at a large tertiary center were included. Clinical characteristics, history of arrhythmia, procedural details, and outcomes were collected. Patients weaned from VA-ECMO immediately at the end of the procedure were compared to those that were de-cannulated at a later time.

A total of 46 patients (93.5% male, age 62 ± 10 years) were ablated with VA-ECMO support. Most had ischemic cardiomyopathy (65%) and (70%) presented with VT storm. The clinical VT was induced in the majority of patients (76%). A total of 99 VTs were induced of which 76 (77%) were targeted and successfully ablated. Non-inducibility was achieved in 74% of cases and most patients (83%) were de-cannulated at the end of the procedure on the procedure table. Survival at 1 year was higher among early de-cannulated patients (86 vs. 38% [log-rank p-value < 0.001]). At 1-year follow-up, 91.3% of surviving patients were free of appropriate ICD shocks.

De-cannulation from VA-ECMO may be done immediately at the conclusion of VTA in most cases. Failure to timely wean off VA-ECMO is a strong predictor of mortality.