Multicenter evaluation of left ventricular assist device implantation with or without ECMO bridge in cardiogenic shock

Background: The efficacy of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to left ventricular assist device (LVAD) remains unclear, and recipients of the more contemporary HeartMate 3 (HM3) LVAD are not well represented in previous studies. We therefore undertook a multicenter, retrospective study of this population. Methods and Results: INTERMACS 1 LVAD recipients from five U.S. centers were included. In-hospital and one-year outcomes were recorded. The primary outcome was the overall mortality hazard comparing ECMO versus non-ECMO patients by propensity-weighted survival analysis. Secondary outcomes included survival by LVAD type, as well as postoperative and one-year outcomes. One hundred and twenty-seven patients were included; 24 received ECMO as a bridge to LVAD. Mortality was higher in patients bridged with ECMO in the primary analysis (HR 3.22 [95%CI 1.06–9.77], p = 0.039). Right ventricular assist device was more common in the ECMO group (ECMO: 54.2% vs non-ECMO: 11.7%, p < 0.001). Ischemic stroke was higher at one year in the ECMO group (ECMO: 25.0% vs non-ECMO: 4.9%, p = 0.006). Among the study cohort, one-year mortality was lower in HM3 than in HeartMate II (HMII) or HeartWare HVAD (10.5% vs 46.9% vs 31.6%, respectively; p < 0.001) recipients. Pump thrombosis at one year was lower in HM3 than in HMII or HVAD (1.8% vs 16.1% vs 16.2%, respectively; p = 0.026) recipients. Conclusions: Higher mortality was observed with ECMO as a bridge to LVAD, likely due to higher acuity illness, yet acceptable one-year survival was seen compared with historical rates. The receipt of the HM3 was associated with improved survival compared with older generation devices.