Outcome of Bridge to Lung Transplantation With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Pediatric Patients 12 Years and Older.

Background: There is a reluctance to using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to lung transplantation in the pediatric population. Pediatric patients between ages 12 and 18 years are eligible for acuity-based lung transplantation using the Lung Allocation Score and may be suitable for adult allografts, increasing the donor pool and thus leading to a successful bridge to lung transplantation.

Methods: The United Network for Organ Sharing dataset was queried for primary lung transplantation in pediatric patients (12-18 years) from 2005 to 2016. Groups were divided into those who were on ECMO (bridged [BG]) and not on ECMO (nonbridged [NBG]) at the time of listing for lung transplant.

Results: The groups comprised 16 BG and 375 NBG patients. Fourteen BG patients (88%) survived the first 30 days. One-year (83.3% vs 86.2%, P = .78) and 3-year (66.7% vs 55.1%, P = .57) survivals were similar in the BG and NBG groups, respectively. Donors in the BG group were more likely to be adults. The median wait-list times were shorter (10.5 [interquartile range {IQR}, 11] vs 93 [IQR, 221] days, P < .001), with a higher Lung Allocation Score (89.8 vs 36.6, P < .001) and similar median ischemic times (5.19 [IQR, 2.32] vs 5.34 [IQR, 1.92] hours, P = .85) in the BG group compared with the NBG group. The median post-transplant length of stay was longer in the BG group (33 [IQR, 31] vs 17 [IQR, 12] days, P = .007) and was the only factor predictive of 3-year mortality. Longer wait-list time had a higher mortality in the BG group.

Conclusions: ECMO as a bridge to lung transplantation is a reasonable strategy in pediatric patients aged ≥ 12 years with acceptable operative mortality and similar 1- and 3-year survival compared with nonbridged patients despite higher acuity. Bridged patients were more likely to receive adult donor lungs.