Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Reviewing the Evidence and Exploring Its Equitable Implementation in the UK National Health Service.

Abstract

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation offers a potentially revolutionary improvement in the historically poor outcomes for refractory cardiac arrest. Current evidence has only demonstrated efficacy in single high volume centres in Europe and the USA and important logistical and health economic considerations remain for a country wide roll out. In this article we will review the evidence and equitable delivery of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the context of the principles of the United Kingdom healthcare system for a general medical audience.