Long-term neurocognitive outcome is not worsened by of the use of venovenous ECMO in severe ARDS patients

BackgroundVenovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is associated with a significant morbidity. There is the need to investigate long-term cognitive outcome among ARDS survivors treated with VV-ECMO. We aimed to compare the prevalence of long-term cognitive dysfunction and neuropsychological impairment using a highly specific test in severe ARDS survivors treated or not treated with VV-ECMO.MethodsSevere ARDS survivors treated between 2011 and 2017 in an ECMO Regional Referral Center were prospectively evaluated 2years after their ICU discharge. Patients underwent an in-person interview and examination. The primary outcome was cognitive function, assessed by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale 4th edition (WAIS-IV). Secondary outcomes included anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and quality-of-life.ResultsWe investigated 40 consecutive patients surviving from severe ARDS treated (N=22) or not (N=18) with VV-ECMO at a median [interquartile range] of 20 [17-22] and 22 [18-23] months after ICU discharge, respectively. Regarding the main outcome, cognitive function was below normal ranges in 12 (55%) ECMO patients and 10 (56%) non-ECMO patients (p=0.95). Eight (36%) ECMO patients had moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms as compared with 7 (39%) non-ECMO patients (p=0.87). Twelve (55%) ECMO patients and eight (44%) non-ECMO patients had moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms (p=0.53). Seven (33%) ECMO patients and eight (44%) non-ECMO patients presented a PTSD (p=0.48). Health-related quality of life did not differ between the two groups.ConclusionsUsing the WAIS-IV, VV-ECMO treatment does not appear to worsen long-term cognitive and neuropsychological outcomes in severe ARDS patients.