[Interhospital transport with extracorporeal life support: results and perspectives after 5 years experience].

OBJECTIVE: Describing the experience of a referral center for interhospital patients transport treated with extracorporeal circulatory or respiratory support (ECLS), the difficulties encountered and the results obtained.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective and observational study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients with respiratory or circulatory failure accepted for extracorporeal assistance for which routine medical transport was life threatening.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: A descriptive analysis was performed (median and interquartile deviation). Comparison of biological data was performed using a non-parametric Wilcoxon test and 5 years overall survival was determined by a Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS: Over a 55-month period, 29 patients were selected for transportation under ECMO or ECLS. Indication was respiratory failure in 38 % of cases, hemodynamic instability in 52 % of cases and combined symptoms in 10 % of cases. Average duration of transportation was 40 km (9-64 km). No complication related to transport was observed. Incidence of intrahospital death was 57 %. There was no correlation between death and indication of ECLS. Five-year survival was 55 % and 39 % for venovenous and arteriovenous ECLS, respectively.

CONCLUSION: In our experience, interhospital transport of patients under ECMO is feasible in satisfactory conditions of safety with trained team and standard procedures.