26, 18
38 patients weaned from ECMO at Aarhus, April 2017 to April 2019, from 82 treated. Protocol: baseline 100% flow (3 of 4 haemodynamic, 3 of 3 respiratory, 3 of 4 echocardiographic criteria), then 66% for 5 minutes, then 33% held 12 hours. Abort at MAP under 60 mmHg, saturation under 90%, or unacceptable echocardiographic evaluation.
26 of 38 (68%) met criteria; 25 of 26 (96%) successfully weaned. 30-day survival 85% (64–94) versus 17% (3–41), p under 0.001. Hospital discharge 21 of 26 versus 1 of 12. Univariable associations with successful weaning: LVOT VTI OR 1.61 (1.14–2.27) p = 0.007; TAPSE OR 1.51 (1.13–2.01) p = 0.005; lateral mitral annular S' OR 2.61 (1.32–5.16) p = 0.006. LVEF not significant for weaning (OR 1.05, 1.00–1.11) but significant for 30-day mortality (HR 0.95, 0.89–1.00). Only low LVOT VTI associated with 30-day mortality (HR 0.82, 0.71–0.94).
Limitation that governs its interpretation: patients bridged to transplant, upgraded to other devices, or in whom treatment was withdrawn as futile were all excluded before analysis, and the criteria selected who underwent a trial — verification bias. The 96% figure is prognostic separation, not validation of the thresholds.
Read as indexed full-text passages. DOI not independently resolved.