Although extracorporeal
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is increasingly utilized in the pediatric
critical care environment, our understanding regarding pediatric candidacy for ECPR remains unknown. Our objective is to explore current practice and indications for pediatric ECPR. Scenario-based, self-administered, online survey, evaluating clinical determinants that may impact pediatric ECPR initiation with respect to four scenarios: postoperative cardiac surgery,
cardiac failure secondary to
myocarditis,
septic shock, and chronic
respiratory failure in a former preterm child. Responders are pediatric
critical care physicians from four societies. 249 physicians, mostly from North America, answered the survey. In cardiac scenarios, 40% of the responders would initiate ECPR, irrespective of
CPR duration, compared with less than 20% in noncardiac scenarios. Nearly 33% of responders would consider ECPR if
CPR duration was less than 60 minutes in noncardiac scenarios. Factors strongly decreasing the likelihood to initiate ECPR were out-of-hospital unwitnessed
cardiac arrest and blood pH <6.60. Additional factors reducing this likelihood were
multiple organ failure, pre-existing neurologic delay, >10 doses of
adrenaline, poor
CPR quality, and
lactate >18 mmol/l. Pediatric intensive care unit location for
cardiac arrest, good
CPR quality, 24/7 in-house
extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) team moderately increase the likelihood of initiating ECPR. This international survey of pediatric ECPR initiation practices reveals significant differences regarding ECPR candidacy based on patient category, location of arrest, duration of
CPR, witness status, and last blood pH. Further research identifying prognostic factors measurable before ECMO initiation should help define the optimal ECPR initiation strategy.