Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support in Postcardiotomy Elderly Patients: The Mayo Clinic Experience

We conducted a retrospective study to assess whether providing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support to elderly patients (aged 70 years or more) who failed separation from cardiopulmonary bypass after cardiac surgery was a viable option.From 2003 to 2013, 45 patients aged 70 years or more underwent 47 runs of ECMO postoperatively.There were 31 men (68.9%). The mean age was 76.8 years. Five patients were in cardiogenic shock...