Potential Candidates for Emergency Department Initiated Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR) in a Canadian Institution.

Introduction Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients experience poor survival. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a form of heart-lung bypass, in the setting of cardiac arrest, termed extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), has promise in improving survival with good neurologic outcomes. The study objective was to determine the number of potential annual ECPR candidates among the OHCA population in a health region within the Atlantic Canadian province of Nova Scotia.

How Feasible is Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in a Medium Urban Population Centre?

Background Patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) experience poor survival and neurological outcomes, with rates remaining relatively unchanged despite advancements. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), termed extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in arrests, may offer improved outcomes. We developed local screening criteria for ECPR and then estimated the frequency of use by applying those criteria retrospectively to a cardiac arrest database.

Introduction of an Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Eligibility Protocol for Paramedics in Atlantic Canada: A Pilot Knowledge Translation Project.

Introduction There is currently no protocol for the initiation of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Atlantic Canada. Advanced care paramedics (ACPs) perform advanced cardiac life support in the prehospital setting often completing the entire resuscitation on-scene. Implementation of ECPR will present a novel intervention that is only available at the receiving hospital.