The association between postoperative complications and prognosis in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in cardiac care unit

Objective: To investigate the association between postoperative complications and prognosis in critically illed patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), so as to improve the survival rate of patients in cardiac care unit (CCU). Methods: 43 patients who received adjuvant therapy with ECMO in our hospital were retrospectively collected and divided into survival group (n=23) and death group (n=20) according to their survival and death during hospitalization. Patients in both groups were treated with ECMO adjuvant therapy. The levels of serum total bilirubin (STB), alanine transaminase (ALT), creatine (Cr), lactic acid (Lac) and urine volume in two groups were evaluated, and the postoperative complications of two groups were observed. Results: ECMO was performed as adjuvant therapy in both groups. The serum levels of STB, ALT, Cr and Lac in survival group were significantly lower than those in death group (P < 0.05). The number of complications such as hemorrhage, infection, renal failure, multiple organ failure (n>3) and ischemic necrosis of lower extremities in survival group was significantly less than that in death group. Conclusion: ECMO can significantly improve the survival rate of patients in CCU. When the serum levels of STB, ALT, Cr and Lac decrease and urine volume increases, liver and kidney function injury is mild, with less postoperative complications and good prognosis. Therefore, monitoring STB, ALT, Cr, Lac and urine volume is able to adjust treatment plan in time, reduce postoperative complications and improve prognosis quality, thus has great positive clinical significance.