E-CPR improves pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest survival

E-CPR improves pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest survival

Cardiopulmonary arrest survival: Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (E-CPR) using extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) has been in use for resuscitation of refractory cardiac arrest and has earned its place in the 2015 AHA guidelines. A study published in Circulation [1] evaluated the effectiveness of E-CPR in a section of 3756 pediatric patients undergoing conventional CPR for 10 or more minutes after in hospital cardiac arrest. 591 (16%) received E-CPR while 3165 received only conventional CPR. The survival to hospital discharge was 40% in those who received E-CPR while it was only 27% in those who received only conventional CPR. The neurological outcome was also better in those who received E-CPR. Neurological outcome was assessed by Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category score. Favourable was a score of 1-3 or unchanged from admission. The improved outcome was noted even after excluding pediatric cardiac surgical patients.

Reference

1. Lasa JJ, Rogers RS, Localio R, Shults J, Raymond T, Gaies M, Thiagarajan R, Laussen PC, Kilbaugh T, Berg RA, Nadkarni V, Topjian A. Extracorporeal-Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (E-CPR) During Pediatric In-Hospital Cardiopulmonary Arrest is Associated with Improved Survival to Discharge: A Report from the American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines® – Resuscitation Registry (GWTG-R). Circulation. 2016; 133: 165-176.