Prognostic accuracy of oxygen debt for mortality in patients undergoing venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy: a retrospective cohort study

In adults receiving VA-ECMO for refractory cardiogenic shock, DEOx measured 6 h before ECMO cannulation showed modest discrimination for 28-day mortality and higher specificity than SOFA and SAVE at pre-specified thresholds. These findings support DEOx as a potential complementary early risk indicator; however, we did not evaluate integrated models with existing scores. Prospective, multicentre studies should evaluate whether adding DEOx to APACHE II/SOFA/SAVE improves prognostic performance and supports earlier intervention.