Outcomes of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Blood Culture Positive Septic Patients

INTRODUCTION: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is commonly used for refractory cardiac or respiratory failure. There are reported cases of successful use of ECMO in patients with septic shock; however, there is a lack of evidence to prove its overall efficacy. Thus, we conducted this study to analyze the relationship between sepsis and ECMO in our own patients. METHODS: 305 patients who were placed on ECMO between 2010 and 2020 were identified within an IRB-approved database. Their clinical outcomes were analyzed with a specific focus on patients who were septic before or during ECMO, defined as a positive blood culture. Group S was composed of patients with a positive blood culture before or during ECMO, while Group N was composed of all patients without a positive blood culture before or during ECMO. The primary outcome compared between groups was ECMO survival rate. RESULTS: Among the 305 patients on ECMO, 58 (19%) were in Group S and 247 (81%) were in Group N. ECMO survival rates were 45% in Group S and 62% in Group N (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Of our 305 patients, patients who were septic upon ECMO placement or those who developed sepsis during ECMO had worse ECMO survival rates than non-septic patients. Ultimately, patients who are septic or have a high probability of becoming septic may not be indicated for ECMO placement, and cautious administration of ECMO to these patients may be necessary.