Prognostic influence of the neurological complications in patients supported with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Abstract Background Neurologic injuries including ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy are common in patients supported with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). Purpose Our objective was to analyze the prognostic influence of neurological injuries on in-hospital survival. Methods Retrospective analysis of consecutive VA-ECMO cases in a referal center. We studied the neurological diagnoses and the results of complementary tests (brain computed tomography –CT- and electroencephalogram –EEG-) and their influence on in-hospital evolution. Results 238 VA-ECMO were implanted between oct 2013-jan 2024. Baseline, admission and evolution characteristics are collected in the table. 58.4% of patients had suffered cardiac arrest (prior to VA-ECMO implantation, and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed in 28.6% of cases. 6 (2.5%) suffered intracranial hemorrhage, 13 (5.5%) ischemic stroke and 40 (16.8%) some degree of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. In-hospital survival was 32.4% (n=77). In 17.2% of the cases neurological damage influenced death (adequacy of therapeutic effort or non-escalation of therapies) and in 14.7% of cases death was directly due to neurological cause (table). Survival was lower in patients with ischemic (stroke survival 23.1% vs no stroke 33.2%, p=0.555) or hemorrhagic stroke (16.7% vs 33%, p=0.667), although without statistically significant differences. The presence of hypoxic brain damage was related to lower hospital survival (survival in patients with encephalopathy 15% vs. without 36.8%, p=0.009). Best EEG pattern registered was related to survival: I survival 33.3% and II 12.5% (good prognosis), III 25% (uncertain prognosis), IV 16.7% and V 0% (poor prognosis), p=0.048. The presence of status epilepticus showed a non-statistically significant trend towards lower survival (survival status 0% vs no estatus 25%, p=0.082). VA-ECMO preimplantation cardiac arrest was associated with the occurrence of encephalopathy (encephalopathy 84% vs. not 40%, p=0.049). The duration of cardiac arrest and lactate before VA-ECMO implantation were significantly higher as the EEG pattern was worse (figure). Conclusions Neurological damage is relevant in patients under VA-ECMO support, being a determining factor in death in up to 17.2% of patients. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy was associated with lower survival, with the EEG pattern associated with previous cardiac arrest, its duration and lactate.Table.Baseline, admission and follow-upFigure.Cardiac arrest, lactate and EEG