Reflections on ECPR in New Zealand: Past, Present and Future

Abstract

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) has gained increasing traction worldwide as a strategy to improve survival in carefully selected patients experiencing refractory cardiac arrest. Historically, New Zealand (NZ) stood at the forefront of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use in the early 2000s, establishing one of the first national retrieval services in the world. Despite limited evidence and the nascent state of ECMO technology, this made NZ a pioneer. Over the following two decades, international guidelines evolved, ECMO systems became more streamlined, and research demonstrated the clinical and economic viability of ECPR in selected patient cohorts. However, NZ persisted with a single-provider framework, seemingly reluctant to adapt to global developments. Recent initiatives are addressing this by decentralising access to ECMO and formalising governance structures. This paper focuses on ECPR specifically, examining equity gaps in access and outcomes, discussing the country's position relative to global standards and proposing directions for the future.