While each year, around 50,000 adults in France die from cardiac arrest, immediate management by extracorporeal circulation could increase the chances of survival. Put into practice by a specialized team from the Samu de Paris, the technique consists in restarting the hearts of victims of refractory cardiac arrest (whose heart does not restart after 30 minutes of resuscitation). This more aggressive procedure than conventional management would significantly increase the chances of survival of victims according to an AP-HP study, Inserm, Paris-Descartes and the Paris Fire Brigade. Today it is estimated at less than 5% the survival rate of victims of refractory cardiac arrest (in the absence of this procedure).
Another advantage of setting up extracorporeal circulation (ECPR), it would reduce the sequelae of people who have had a “refractory” cardiac arrest. The teams from the AP-HP (Samu 75 and European Hospital Georges-Pompidou), Inserm, Paris-Descartes and the Paris Fire Brigade made this observation by observing 156 patients who were victims of an arrest. “refractory” cardiac, between 2011 and 2015. “In patients who immediately benefited from cardiopulmonary bypass surgery (ECPR), survival after discharge from intensive care has significantly increased, with a favorable neurological prognosis”, reports APHP.
How does ECPR work?
The technique, used in cardiac surgery for heart operations, aims to replace the failing heart and the patient’s lungs. The blood is drawn into a machine that performs gas exchange in the heart and lungs, before being reinjected into the body via the femoral artery.
We remain trained in emergency actions at the@APHPpic.twitter.com/TMSgQnhap5
– Céline Louapre (@clouapre) June 6, 2017
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