title: Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation as a Bridge to Pediatric Heart Transplantation: Effect on Post-Listing and Post-Transplantation Outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current organ allocation algorithms direct hearts to the sickest recipients to mitigate death while waiting. This may result in lower post-transplant (Tx) survival for high-risk candidates mandating close examination to determine the appropriateness of different technologies as a bridge to Tx.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed all patients (<18 years old) from the Pediatric Heart Transplant Study (PHTS) database listed for heart Tx (1993-2013) to determine the effect of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support at the time of listing and the time of Tx on waitlist mortality and post-Tx outcomes. Eight percent of patients were listed on ECMO, and within 12 months, 49% had undergone Tx, 35% were deceased, and 16% were alive waiting. Survival at 12 months after listing (censored at Tx) was worse in patients on ECMO at listing (50%) compared with ventricular assist device at listing (76%) or not on ECMO or ventricular assist device at listing (76%; P<0.0001). Two hundred three (5%) patients underwent Tx from ECMO; 135 (67%) had been on ECMO since listing, and 67 (33%) had deteriorated to ECMO support while waiting. Survival after Tx was worse in patients who underwent Tx from ECMO (3 years: 64%) versus on ventricular assist device at Tx (3 years: 84%) or not on ECMO/ventricular assist device at Tx (3 years: 85%; P<0.0001). Patients transplanted from ECMO at age <1 year had the worst survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediatric patients requiring ECMO support before heart Tx have poor outcomes. Prioritization of donor hearts to children waitlisted on ECMO warrants careful consideration because of ECMO's high pre- and post-Tx mortality.
authors.affiliation: From the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.I.D.); Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (W.T.M.); University of Alabama at Birmingham (M.T., D.C.N., J.K.K., E.P.); Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA (C.A.); and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (S.A.W.). anne.dipchand@sickkids.ca.
authors.forename: Anne I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Dipchand
authors.affiliation: From the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.I.D.); Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (W.T.M.); University of Alabama at Birmingham (M.T., D.C.N., J.K.K., E.P.); Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA (C.A.); and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (S.A.W.).
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Mahle
authors.affiliation: From the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.I.D.); Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (W.T.M.); University of Alabama at Birmingham (M.T., D.C.N., J.K.K., E.P.); Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA (C.A.); and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (S.A.W.).
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tresler
authors.affiliation: From the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.I.D.); Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (W.T.M.); University of Alabama at Birmingham (M.T., D.C.N., J.K.K., E.P.); Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA (C.A.); and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (S.A.W.).
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Naftel
authors.affiliation: From the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.I.D.); Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (W.T.M.); University of Alabama at Birmingham (M.T., D.C.N., J.K.K., E.P.); Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA (C.A.); and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (S.A.W.).
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Almond
authors.affiliation: From the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.I.D.); Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (W.T.M.); University of Alabama at Birmingham (M.T., D.C.N., J.K.K., E.P.); Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA (C.A.); and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (S.A.W.).
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kirklin
authors.affiliation: From the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.I.D.); Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (W.T.M.); University of Alabama at Birmingham (M.T., D.C.N., J.K.K., E.P.); Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA (C.A.); and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (S.A.W.).
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pruitt
authors.affiliation: From the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.I.D.); Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (W.T.M.); University of Alabama at Birmingham (M.T., D.C.N., J.K.K., E.P.); Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA (C.A.); and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (S.A.W.).
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Webber
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014850:Waiting Lists
keywords: extracorporeal circulation; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; heart-assist devices; pediatrics; transplantation