Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to analyse the short- and long-term outcomes in patients who received extracorporeal life support for the treatment of perioperative low-output syndrome and identify risk factors for mortality. METHODS: All consecutive patients who received extracorporeal life-support system during or after cardiac surgery at a high-volume German cardiac centre between 2008 and 2017 were identified retrospectively and followed up to December 2023. This cohort was characterized, and long-term survival (>10 years) was analysed. Univariate and multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for mortality. RESULTS: Five-hundred and seventy-six patients were included; 21.7% underwent isolated coronary bypass, 16.5% single valve surgery, 34.3% combined cardiac surgery and 13.2% heart transplantation. The system was implanted peripherally in 60.8% of patients. In-hospital and 1-year mortality for all patients was 66.0% and 77.7%, respectively. In the multivariable Cox adjustment, severe aortic valve stenosis, previous cardiac surgery and intra-aortic balloon pump were independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality (P < 0.05). Older age, severe mitral regurgitation and patients on insulin were predictors for long-term mortality (P < 0.05). However, peripheral cannulation significantly reduced mortality. There was no time-dependent interaction of perioperative stroke with mortality. For patients who were discharged alive, the estimated 10-year survival was 32.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of perioperative low-output syndrome with extracorporeal life-support systems is associated with poor outcome and only 34% of patients could be discharged successfully. Peripheral cannulation is prognostically favourable. Special attention should be paid to these patients because age, insulin therapy and severe mitral regurgitation are strong predictors for mortality after 10 years.