
Using Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Donations After Cardiac Death or Brain Death: A Single-Center Experience and Long-Term Outcome
This study explores the impact of using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in liver transplants from donors after cardiac death (DCD) or brain death (DBD). Conducted as a retrospective study from January 2006 to December 2019 at a single center, it included 90 deceased donor liver transplants. The findings indicate no significant survival rate differences between the DBD and DCD groups with ECMO support. However, the DCD with ECMO group showed significant differences in warm and cold ischemia times and bilirubin levels compared to the DBD group. The study underscores ECMO’s role in enhancing the liver graft pool, contributing to 35.6% of liver transplants, with 5-year survival rates being 78.1% for DBD, 90.9% for DBD with ECMO, and 75.6% for DCD with ECMO groups.