Survival outcomes after rescue extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in pediatric patients with refractory cardiac arrest

Acceptable survival and neurologic outcomes (30%) can be achieved with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in children after prolonged cardiac arrest (up to 95 minutes) refractory to conventional resuscitation measures. Heart transplantation is often needed for successful extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation exit strategy. Lack of predictors of poor outcome support aggressive attempts to initiate extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in all patients, followed by subsequent assessment of organ salvage.