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Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Mouse
Published on: October 24, 2018
Comorbidities in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a comorbidome-based analysis
Henry Robayo-Amortegui1,2, Juan Hernández-Puentes2, Michel Pérez-Garzón1,2
1Department of Critical Care Medicine, Extracorporeal Life Support Unit, Fundación Clínica Shaio, Bogotá, D.C, Colombia.
Frontiers in Medicine
|June 24, 2026
Summary
Comorbidities like HIV, kidney disease, and hypertension significantly increase mortality risk in patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). These risks vary by ECMO configuration, impacting patient selection and care in Latin America.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Cardiovascular Technology
- Public Health in Latin America
Background:
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a vital life support system with high global mortality rates (48.7-76.38%).
- A significant knowledge gap exists regarding how comorbidities affect ECMO patient prognosis, especially in underreported Latin American settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between comorbidities and 30-day mortality in adult ECMO patients.
- To differentiate these associations based on ECMO configuration: venoarterial (VA) vs. venovenous (VV).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional cohort study of 420 adult ECMO patients in Colombia (2019-2024).
- Comorbidities assessed using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI).
- Mortality associations quantified using Odds Ratios (OR).
Main Results:
- Overall mortality was 30%. Frequent comorbidities included anemia (47.7%), obesity (32.1%), and metabolic disorders (22.0%).
- HIV infection (OR 3.60), chronic kidney disease (OR 2.13), and hypertension (OR 1.68) were linked to higher mortality.
- Modality-specific findings: VA-ECMO mortality associated with chronic kidney disease (OR 2.92); VV-ECMO mortality associated with HIV (OR 2.44).
Conclusions:
- Pre-existing comorbidities, particularly HIV, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension, significantly impact ECMO patient mortality.
- Understanding these modality-specific comorbidity associations is vital for optimizing patient selection and clinical management in Latin American ICUs.
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