, Cihan Yücel 1
, Tarık Demir 2
, Kadir Doğruer 3
, Ali Kocailik 4
, Nihan Kayalar 1
, İlhan Sanisoglu 1
2University of Health Sciences Turkey, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Clinic of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery, İstanbul, Turkey
3Avrasya Hospital, Clinic of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, İstanbul, Turkey
4Bilgi University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Perfusion, İstanbul, Turkey
Abstract
Objective: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be used in patients with severe respiratory and/or cardiac pathologies. Transferring a patient on ECMO support to advanced hospital may become life-saving for whom. We evaluated the effects of very long distance transportation with ECMO.
Methods: This study includes 10 patients who were transferred from a distant hospital to an advanced care hospital while on veno-venous (VV) or veno-arterial ECMO between 2017 and 2019. A transfer distance of at least 1000 km was the required inclusion criterion for the study. The primary outcome was all cause mortality in the hospital and in 1-year. The secondary outcomes were the duration of ECMO run and mechanical ventilation, durations of intensive care unit and hospital stay.
Results: The mean distance of transport was 1878.2±440.7. One adverse event occurred because inappropriate electrical connection of the plane so backup ECMO device was switched on. Overall hospital mortality of the patients was 40% and 1-year survival was 50%.
Conclusion: Interfacility transfer on ECMO support between too far centers is safe and may be a life-saving procedure for the patient. The survival rates of VV ECMO seems to be better.