Extended use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after lung transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for severe graft failure after lung transplantation is accepted immediately postoperatively; extending its use is controversial. We evaluated our post-lung transplant ECMO experience, which included extended indication, to (1) determine its prevalence, risk factors, indications, and timing, (2) compare complications and outcomes of these patients with those not requiring it, and (3) identify risk factors, including indications, for mortality.


METHODS
From February 1990 to October 2005, 474 patients underwent lung transplantation; postoperative ECMO support was instituted for severe graft failure 23 times in 22 patients (4.0%). Indications for ECMO and its timing were obtained by reviewing medical records and survival by systematic follow-up.


RESULTS
No factor evaluated predicted severe graft failure leading to ECMO. The most common indication for ECMO was early graft failure (13 patients); however, it was also used for pneumonia or sepsis (6) and acute rejection (4). ECMO was initiated at a median arterial oxygen tension/inspired oxygen fraction of 59 at a median of 2 days postoperatively and was maintained for a median of 4 days. The most common complications were renal failure (57%) and bleeding (43%). ECMO was effective in salvaging patients with rejection and early graft failure (survival at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months: 62%, 54%, 49%, and 41%), but ineffective for pneumonia or sepsis (survival at these intervals: 9%, 4%, 4%, and 3%).


CONCLUSIONS
ECMO can be extended beyond early severe graft failure to acute rejection and can be considered after the immediate postoperative period. Survival after ECMO in patients with pneumonia or sepsis is poor.
Mason
David P
DP
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. masond2@ccf.org
Boffa
Daniel J
DJ
Murthy
Sudish C
SC
Gildea
Thomas R
TR
Budev
Marie M
MM
Mehta
Atul C
AC
McNeill
Ann M
AM
Smedira
Nicholas G
NG
Feng
Jingyuan
J
Rice
Thomas W
TW
Blackstone
Eugene H
EH
Pettersson
B Gösta
BG
D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure