Predicting Transfusion Requirements During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

ObjectivePatients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) have a well-known bleeding risk and the potential for experiencing possibly fatal thromboembolic complications. Risk factors and predictors of transfusion requirements during ECMO support remain uncertain. The authors hypothesized that compromised organ function immediately before ECMO support will influence transfusion requirements.DesignA prospective observational study.SettingA tertiary, single-institutional university hospital.ParticipantsThe study included 40 adult patients requiring ECMO for intractable cardiac and respiratory failure between July 2010 and December 2012. Blood samples were taken before initiation of ECMO (baseline), after 24 and 48 hours on ECMO, and 24 hours after termination of ECMO.InterventionsNone.Measurements and Main ResultsIndependent of veno-arterial or veno-venous support, 26% of patients required≥2 packed red blood cells per day (PRBC/d) and 74% of patients required