Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for primary graft dysfunction after heart transplant

Objective: Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a useful treatment for severe primary graft dysfunction after heart transplant. The ideal timing of initiation is unknown. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 362 adult heart transplant recipients at our center between January 2011 and December 2017. Thirty-eight patients (10.5%) experienced severe primary graft dysfunction treated with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. As our institution adopted a prompt venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation policy in 2015, patients were stratified into pre-2015 (conservative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: n = 18) and post-2015 (prompt extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: n = 20) cohorts. Clinical outcomes were compared. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar (conservative vs prompt) except for age (51.82 vs 59.96 years, P =.036), aspartate transaminase (32 vs 21.5 U/L, P =.038), male donor (44.4 vs 80%, P =.042), and donor ejection fraction (60 vs 65%, P =.047). Median ischemic time was significantly longer in the conservative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cohort (210 vs 148 minutes, P =.005). Median time to initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was significantly shorter in the prompt extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cohort (7.26 vs 1.95 hours, P <.0001). There was no difference in intensive care unit stay or major complications. In-hospital mortality improved from 28% (conservative) to 5% (prompt, P =.083). Post-transplant survival at 1 year was 67% in the conservative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cohort and 90% in the prompt extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cohort (P =.117). There was no difference in the Kaplan–Meier survival curves (P =.071), although Cox regression suggested, but certainly did not prove, a 74.6% lower risk of mortality in the prompt extracorporeal membrane oxygenation group (P =.094). Conclusions: Prompt venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use for primary graft dysfunction after heart transplant results in excellent myocardial recovery and a possible decrease in mortality without increased risk of complications.