Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for postoperative complications in general thoracic surgery: a ten years experience of a university referral centre

Abstract

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a rescue therapy that supports gas exchange and hemodynamic parameters in patients with severe respiratory or cardiac failure. In the last ten years, a significant increment in the use of ECMO has been occurred in thoracic surgery for lung transplant, but little is known about the role of ECMO to face severe complications after general thoracic surgery. This study aims: (I) to investigate the incidence of postoperative adverse events, requiring ECMO support, after general thoracic surgery, and (II) to evaluate the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital survival in patients who received ECMO after general thoracic surgery. Methods:We retrospectively reviewed the ECMO registry data on patients who received ECMO after general thoracic surgery at