Early-Outcomes
Early outcomes are summarized in Table 3. Lactate and pH values showed no significant difference in the comparison of both groups over the first 24 hours. ECMO duration was significantly shorter in the ECMO group than in the ECMO+Impella® group (3.16\(\pm\)2.09 days ECMO vs. 6.4\(\pm\)2.79 days ECMO+Impella®, p=0.01). ECMO weaning was feasible in 29% of the ECMO group and 71% of the ECMO+Impella® group (p=0.02). The rate of blood transfusions differed significantly between both groups (26(13;38) units ECMO+Impella® vs. 10(3,25;18) units ECMO, p=0.01). The rate of transfused fresh frozen plasma units did not differ between the groups (ECMO+Impella® 10(2;15) and ECMO 2 (0;7.75), p=0.09). The ECMO+Impella® group received significantly more platelet units (3(1;4) vs ECMO group 0 (0;1), p<0.01).
Overall, in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the ECMO+Impella® group (29% ECMO+Impella® vs. 83% ECMO, p=0.01). The survival for both groups is presented in the Kaplan-Meier plot (Figure 1).