Claudia Poveda-Henao, Departamento de Cardiología, Fundación Clínica Shaio, Bogotá, Colombia
Mauricio Manrique-Samer, Departamento de Cardiología, Fundación Clínica Shaio, Bogotá, Colombia
David A. Ocampo, Departamento de Cardiología, Fundación Clínica Shaio, Bogotá, Colombia
Diego Ortega-Gómez, Departamento de Cardiología, Fundación Clínica Shaio, Bogotá, Colombia
Claudia Jaramillo, Departamento de Cardiología, Fundación Clínica Shaio, Bogotá, Colombia
Jenny P. Garzón-Ruiz, Departamento de Cardiología, Fundación Clínica Shaio, Bogotá, Colombia
Gloria M. Rodríguez, Departamento de Cardiología, Fundación Clínica Shaio, Bogotá, Colombia
Introduction: Up to 12% of patients with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) may develop hemodynamic instability, and some cases require advanced extracorporeal support. In our setting, the outcomes of VA-ECMO in this context are unknown. Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of high-risk adults with PTE who underwent VA-ECMO therapy and compare outcomes between those who received systemic thrombolysis and those who did not. Methods: A retrospective case series of high-risk acute PTE patients undergoing VA-ECMO (2019-2025). Data were analyzed descriptively using STATA 15; quantitative and qualitative variables were appropriately summarized. Results: A total of 16 patients with a mean age of 36.9 years were included, most of whom were women (75%). Altogether, 68.5% of patients received systemic thrombolysis and 18.7% received mechanical thrombectomy; 68.75% experienced cardiac arrest prior to VA-ECMO support. Infectious and renal complications were the most common. Overall survival was 62.5%. Conclusions: In our cohort, survival was comparable to that reported in the literature. There were no significant differences based on the use or non-use of thrombolysis.
Keywords: Pulmonary embolism. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Venoarterial ECMO. Cardiogenic shock. Critical care.
