Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation retrieval factors and survival to intensive care unit discharge.

Objective: Audit of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) retrieval service operating in Victoria, Australia, regarding retrieval factors and patient survival to intensive care unit (ICU) discharge.

Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis of Adult Retrieval Victoria ECMO retrievals with subsequent ICU admission (n = 88) from January 2014 to December 2017.

Results: Complications occurring during veno-arterial ECMO transfer have significant association with decreased survival to ICU discharge (P = 0.012). Mortality for veno-arterial ECMO patients was greater than veno-venous ECMO patients.

Conclusion: Retrieval ECMO achieves similar survival outcomes to in-house ECMO. The demonstrated relationship of adverse events during retrieval phase to subsequent mortality in ICU highlights the need for optimised case management and retrieval processes.