What is the survival rate in ECMO?
The survival rate in ECMO depends mainly on the severity of the underlying diseases and the age of the patient. The very frequent use of ECMO in newborns achieves survival rates of up to 80%. In adults, the survival rate is significantly lower and is estimated at 40-50%.
However, this is only the mean value for the affected patient and can vary considerably depending on the situation. A young patient, for example, will have a significantly higher chance of survival because he or she will be better able to cope with the great physical strain and possible infections, will be able to cope with them better and will recover more quickly. The indication also plays an enormously important role in assessing the survival rate. However, this is difficult to illustrate in general and should be clarified by a doctor in the specific case. Studies have shown that the presence of certain pre-existing conditions, such as heart failure, diabetes or a past heart attack, has a significant influence on the outcome of ECMO and subsequent recovery.
What are the costs for an ECMO?
The costs for treatment with an ECMO are enormously high.However, it is difficult to estimate the exact number because many different factors are taken into account and it depends heavily on the duration of treatment. If acquisition costs, maintenance fees, personnel costs, individual material costs and others are added up, this results in amounts of several thousand euros per patient. The device itself costs around 50,000 euros, but has a long service life. The problem is that the indications for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation are rare, which makes it difficult to pay off the device.
