CPR Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation – Single Centre Experience and Results. All for One, One for All?

Introduction: The use of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ECMO (CPR-ECMO) for in-hospital witnessed cardiac arrest is controversial with survival to discharge ranging from 17 to 48% [ 1 Peberdy M.A. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation of adults in the hospital: a report of 14720 cardiac arrests from the National Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Resuscitation. 2003; 58: 297-308 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (969) Google Scholar , 2 Chen J.S. Analysis of outcome for patients experiencing myocardial infarction and cardiopulmonary resuscitation refractory to conventional therapies necessitating extracorporeal life support rescue. Crit Care Med. 2006; 34: 950-957 Crossref PubMed Scopus (141) Google Scholar ]. We reviewed our experience and results with this group of patients to look at the feasibility of this therapy in the Australian setting.