Distal Perfusion Timing, Early or Conservative, to Prevent Limb Ischemia During Peripheral VA-ECMO

Peripheral VA-ECMO is widely used in refractory cardiogenic shock patients as a salvage therapy. In most cases, the femoral artery and vein are used for the vascular approach. Large cannulas are usually used for proper oxygenation, which may cause peripheral limb ischemia. Distal perfusion catheterization (DPC) at the ipsilateral arterial cannula site is recommended to prevent distal limb ischemia. However, there is no consensus on the proper timing of DPC and additional invasive procedures may cause complications during VA-ECMO support. In this analysis, the investigators compare the clinical outcomes of distal limb ischemia complications between the conventional DPC group (DPC at the time of limb ischemia sign) and the preemptive DPC group (DPC at the time of VA-ECMO application).