Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation-Supported Patient Outcome Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

The efficacy and safety of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains unknown. We conducted a meta-analysis to compare benefit and risk of ECMO in TAVR patients. Bibliographic databases were searched from inception to January 1, 2024. Included studies involved patients ≥18 years old undergoing TAVR and using ECMO emergently or prophylactically. Mortality and procedure success were primary outcomes. Peri- or postoperative complications were the secondary outcomes. We identified 11 observational studies, including 2,275 participants (415 ECMO and 1,860 non-ECMO). The unadjusted mortality risk in ECMO-supported patient was higher than non-ECMO patients (odds ratio [OR] 1.73). The mortality unadjusted risk remained high (OR 3.89) and statistically significant for prophylactic ECMO. Prophylactic ECMO had lower mortality risk compared with emergent ECMO (OR 0.17). Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-supported patients had lower procedural success rate (OR 0.10). Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients undergoing TAVR had significantly increased risk of bleeding (OR 3.32), renal failure (OR 2.38), postoperative myocardial infarction (OR 1.89), and stroke (OR 2.32) compared with non-ECMO patients. Clinical results are not improved by ECMO support in patients with high-risk TAVR. Prophylactic ECMO outperforms emergent. Overall, ECMO support increases mortality and postoperative complications. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement outcomes may improve with prophylactic ECMO in high-risk situations.