title: The Impact of Vascular Complications on Survival of Patients on Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are various factors that can influence the survival of patients receiving venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO). Vascular complications from femoral cannulation are common and are potentially serious. We analyzed the impact of vascular complications on survival of patients receiving VA ECMO.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients supported with VA ECMO by means of femoral cannulation from October 2010 to November 2014 were enrolled in this study. Data were gathered retrospectively by reviewing our institutional database. Patients were separated into two groups depending on the presence of major vascular complications, defined as patients who required surgical intervention. We evaluated predisposing factors for vascular complications and compared survival of patients in each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 84 patients enrolled in the study. The rates of overall ECMO survival and survival to hospital discharge were 60% and 43%, respectively. Major vascular complications requiring surgical intervention were seen in 17 (20%) patients. Ten patients (12%) had compartment syndrome requiring prophylactic fasciotomy, and 10 patients (12%) had bleeding or hematoma requiring surgical exploration. The only significant predisposing factor for vascular complications was the absence of a distal perfusion catheter (odds ratio, 14.8; p = 0.03). The rate of survival to discharge was 18% and 49% in patients with and without vascular complications, respectively (p = 0.02). Vascular complications were an independent factor of significantly worse survival in patients receiving VA ECMO by multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 2.17; p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vascular complications negatively affect survival in patients receiving VA ECMO support by means of femoral cannulation. The utilization of a distal perfusion catheter can decrease the incidence of complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Daizo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cavarocchi
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: john.entwistle@jefferson.edu.
authors.forename: John W C
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Entwistle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies