Table 1 Clinical characteristics of the 17 patients at the time of VA-ECMO implantation

Age, yr, median (range)

51 (18–70)

Male

6 (35)

Body mass index, kg/m²

29 (20–35)

McCabe and Jackson score ≥2

3 (18)

Charlson score ≥2

5 (29)

SAPS II

78 (45–95)

SOFA score

12 (8–16)

Predisposing factors for venous thromboembolism

11 (65)

 Postoperative status

4

 Immobility due to sitting

2

 Oral contraception

1

 Previous venous thromboembolism

3

 Postpartum period

3

 Hospitalization for HF or AF (within previous 3 months)

2

ECMO implantation by Mobile ECMO Unit

7 (41)

Femoral–femoral VA-ECMO

16 (94)

Pre-ECMO cardiac arrest

15 (88)

 No-flow time, min

0 (0–11)

 Low-flow time, min

30 (10–85)

 ECMO during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

7 (41)

Pre-ECMO systolic blood pressure, mmHg

55 (0–130)

Pre-ECMO mean blood pressure, mmHg

42 (0–106)

Pre-ECMO heart rate, bpm

95 (0–177)

Pre-ECMO inotrope score, μg/kg/min

100 (1.8–760)

pH

6.99 (6.54–7.37)

Blood lactate, mmol/L

13.3 (4.2–19.0)

Bicarbonate, mmol/L

12 (3–25)

Troponin I, μg/mL

2.2 (0.1–23.7)

PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio

198 (32–674)

PaCO₂, mmHg

48 (17–102)

Bilirubin, mmol/L

8 (6–124)

Prothrombin activity, %

34 (10–72)

Pre-ECMO cardiac echocardiography

17 (100)

 RV dilation

17 (100)

 Pulmonary artery thrombus

3 (18)

 LVEF, %

40 (5–60)

Pre-ECMO chest CT scan

12 (71)

 Proximal PE

10 (59)

 Pulmonary infarction

3 (18)

RV/LV dimensions ratio

1.3 (0.7–1.6)

Pre-ECMO systemic fibrinolytic therapy

8 (47)

Pre-ECMO surgical thrombectomy

2 (12)

Pre-ECMO catheter-directed thromboaspiration

1 (6)