Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a low-volume whole nation cardiothoracic centre: short- and long-term mortality, survivors` quality of life and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder

ECMO treatment can be provided with acceptable short- and long-term mortality in a low-volume centre. Nonetheless, opportunities for improvement could be identified, particularly regarding VA ECMO in cardiac arrest. At long-term follow-up, problems with anxiety and/or depression were most commonly observed and 25% met screening criteria for PTSD. Most VA ECMO surviors did not return to work.