Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Patients With Electrical Storm or Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmias: Management and Outcomes

Patients on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) are at high risk for ventricular arrhythmias due to derangements in myocardial perfusion, hemodynamics, and heightened catecholamine states. Existing data on the management and outcomes of patients with electrical storm or refractory ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) treated with VA-ECMO are primarily derived from retrospective observational studies. Typical survival rates are in the range of 40%-50%, with 15%-20% of patients undergoing VT ablation and 30%-40% of patients requiring advanced heart failure therapies (cardiac transplant or durable left ventricular assist device). Similarly, there is a paucity of published data on VT/VF management for patients while on VA-ECMO, as these data are largely extrapolated from patients with electrical storm. Although many of the treatment principles (identifying reversible causes, antiarrhythmic drugs, VT ablation, and reduction of adrenergic tone) are translatable, several aspects require special consideration when managing VT/VF in the VA-ECMO patient population. Among carefully selected patients on VA-ECMO who underwent VT ablation, reported recurrence rates were ∼ 30% and a sizeable proportion of them (30%-40%) required advanced heart failure therapy as an exit strategy. In addition, there are specific issues that require consideration for patients on VA-ECMO who undergo VT ablation, such as vascular access, ECMO access site complications, and bleeding due to systemic anticoagulation. Optimal management of VT/VF in this patient population requires ongoing reassessment and dialogue among electrophysiology, heart failure, and critical care specialists. Additional research is needed to better inform the care of this very high-risk patient population.