Key Factors in Decision Making for ECLS: A Binational Factorial Survey.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) provides support to patients with cardiopulmonary failure refractory to conventional therapy. While ECLS is potentially life-saving, it is associated with severe complications; decision making to initiate ECLS must, therefore, carefully consider which patients ECLS potentially benefits despite its consequences.

Objective

To answer 2 questions: First, which medically relevant patient factors influence decisions to initiate ECLS? Second, what are factors relevant to decisions to withdraw a running ECLS treatment?

Methods

We conducted a factorial survey among 420 physicians from 111 hospitals in Switzerland and Germany. The study included 2 scenarios: 1 explored willingness to initiate ECLS, and 1 explored willingness to with

SUBMITTER: Drewniak D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8918869 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature