Crossing-Borders: Experiences With International Transports on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Special Considerations and Challenges

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a crucial support for patients with severe cardiac or respiratory failure, but its availability is limited, often requiring patient transport to specialized centers. Only a few centers provide mobile ECMO services, and international ECMO transports are rare. This study reviews a department's experience with international ECMO transports from 1998 to 2022. Out of 1,277 ECMO transports, 357 (28%) were international. Most of these (52%) were directed to ECMO Center Karolinska, whereas others involved transfers due to a lack of beds or between foreign centers. The majority (79%) of patients were cannulated at the referring hospital, with 63% supported by venoarterial ECMO. Transport distances averaged 1,200 km, using fixed-wing aircraft 89% of the time. Hospital survival for those transported to Karolinska was 82%, and 36% of transports experienced complications, though no deaths occurred during transport. This study highlights the safety and effectiveness of international ECMO transport with highly trained teams.