Comparison of Conventional Methods with Pump-Controlled Retrograde Trial off for Weaning Adults with Cardiogenic Shock from Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
This retrospective study evaluates the effectiveness of pump-controlled retrograde trial off (PCRTO) versus conventional weaning methods from veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in adults with cardiogenic shock. It found that the PCRTO method significantly improves survival rates to discharge compared to non-PCRTO methods (90% vs. 72%) and reduces the incidence of cardiogenic shock post-weaning (5% vs. 16%). PCRTO, offering a safe and reversible weaning process, emerges as a useful predictor for successful VA-ECMO weaning through a preload stress test, suggesting its viability as a preferred approach in clinical practice.