Optimal extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation inclusion criteria for favorable neurological outcomes: a single-center retrospective analysis.

Aim: Although age ≤75 years, witnessed arrest, shockable initial cardiac rhythm, and short cardiac arrest duration are commonly cited inclusion criteria for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), these criteria are not well-established, and ECPR outcomes remain poor. We aimed to evaluate whether the aforementioned inclusion criteria are appropriate for ECPR, and estimate the improvements in prognoses associated with their fulfillment.

Methods: Between October 2009 and December 2017, we retrospectively examined consecutive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients who were admitted to our hospital and received ECPR.