The Early Initiation of Extracorporeal Life Support May Improve the Neurological Outcome in Adults with Cardiac Arrest due to Cardiac Events

OBJECTIVE: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is effective for improving the survival rate of patients with refractory cardiac arrest (rCA). As little data are available regarding the impact of ECLS on a favorable neurological outcome, the predictors of a favorable neurological outcome were evaluated in this study. METHODS: Between January 2007 and August 2016, we retrospectively recruited patients with rCA caused by cardiac events treated with ECLS in our institute. A favorable neurological outcome was defined as a Glasgow-Pittsburgh cerebral performance category score 1 at discharge. The study endpoint was the clinical outcomes and predictors of favorable neurologic patients at discharge. RESULTS: During the study period, 67 patients with CA caused by cardiac events (acute coronary syndrome, 57 patients; idiopathic ventricular fibrillation, 10 patients) were included. Of these, 20 patients (29.9%) were classified into the favorable neurological group. No marked difference was observed in the patient characteristics between those with and without a favorable outcome except for in the time from CA to starting ECLS (ECLS initiation time). A short ECLS initiation time resulted in a favorable outcome (37.8±28.1 minutes vs. 53.6±30.7 minutes, p=0.05). The cut-off time of ECLS initiation was 46 minutes, which was prolonged by the temporary return of spontaneous circulation before ECLS [odds ratio (OR), 3.69; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.34-10.19; p=0.01] and transfer to the angiographic room (OR, 4.07; 95% CI, 1.44-11.53, p=0.008). CONCLUSION: The early initiation of ECLS (within 46 minutes) might be associated with a favorable neurological outcome for patients with rCA caused by cardiac events.