Cerebral outcome in adult patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
BACKGROUND
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) carries a high risk of brain injury. The aim of this study was to determine the cerebral status in 28 adult survivors on average 5.0 (range, 0.5 to 12) years after ECMO treatment for severe cardiorespiratory failure.


METHODS
All 28 patients were investigated at our institution. A comprehensive assessment protocol included a medical history, physical examination, neuropsychological assessment, electroencephalography, and neuroradiologic assessment.


RESULTS
All patients were ambulant unaided, and 43% were without any clinical findings. Impaired neuropsychological performance was found in 41%, neuroradiologic findings in 52%, and a pathologic electroencephalogram in 41% of the patients. There was a significant correlation between the cognitive outcome and neuroradiologic findings. The incidence of neuroradiologic findings (cerebral infarction, microemboli or hemorrhage) was significantly higher in the venoarterial group compared with the venovenous group (75% versus 17%). There was no correlation between the type of ECMO and neuropsychological impairment. Electroencephalography findings did not correlate with neuropsychological performance, nor with the neuroradiologic findings.


CONCLUSIONS
Late cerebral sequelae were frequently seen in patients treated on venoarterial ECMO. A significant correlation was found between cognitive impairment and neuroradiologic findings.
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. ivar.risnes@rikshospitalet.no
Ivar
I
Risnes
Kari
K
Wagner
Terje
T
Nome
Kjetil
K
Sundet
Jorun
J
Jensen
Inger Annette
IA
Hynås
Thor
T
Ueland
Thore
T
Pedersen
Jan Ludvig
JL
Svennevig
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged