Abstract 4366298: ECMO Combined with Thrombectomy Yields Superior Outcomes in Acute High-Risk Pulmonary Embolism

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used as a rescue therapy in patients with severe high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE), but data on optimal management and especially on mid- and long-term outcomes remain limited. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that ECMO combined with thrombectomy would lead to better short- and long-term outcomes than ECMO with thrombolysis or ECMO alone. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with high-risk PE who received ECMO at a single institution between January 2016 and July 2024. Patients were categorized into three groups based on the type of adjunctive reperfusion therapy received: those who underwent thrombectomy, including surgical and percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy; those who received thrombolysis, including systemic thrombolysis and catheter-directed thrombolysis; and those who were managed with ECMO alone without reperfusion therapy. We compared patient characteristics and clinical outcomes across these groups. Results: A total of 72 patients with high-risk PE underwent ECMO during the study period, with a median age of 52.5 years (95% CI: 42.0–65.3). Of these, 22 patients received ECMO with thrombectomy (5 surgical, 17 percutaneous), 28 patients received ECMO with thrombolysis (13 systemic, 15 catheter-directed), and 22 patients received ECMO alone. There were no significant demographic differences among the groups. The incidence of cardiac arrest was similar: ECMO alone (72.7%), thrombolysis (67.9%), and thrombectomy (77.3%) (P=0.76). The median duration of ECMO support was 5 days (95% CI: 4–6 days), with no significant difference among the three groups (P = 0.2). Successful weaning from ECMO was achieved in 100% of the thrombectomy group, 60.7% of the thrombolysis group, and 36.4% of the ECMO-alone group (P<0.01). Survival to hospital discharge was highest in the ECMO with thrombectomy group (81.8%), compared to 57.1% in the thrombolysis group and 18.1% in the ECMO alone group (P<0.01). There were no significant differences in in-hospital complications among the groups. The 1- and 3-year survival rates were 81.8%, and 72.7% in the ECMO with thrombectomy group; 55.7%, and 46.4% in the ECMO with thrombolysis group; and 18.2%, and 18.2% in the ECMO alone group (P <0.001). Conclusion: ECMO without reperfusion therapy was associated with poor outcomes, whereas ECMO with thrombectomy provided the best short- and long-term survival, followed by thrombolysis.