Incidence, kinetics, and clinical impact of thrombocytopenia in venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): insights from the multicenter observational PROTECMO study
Authors' conclusion
Thrombocytopenia is highly prevalent in VV ECMO, and associated with a significant increase in the risk of bleeding, and a reduction in 6-month survival, particularly at platelet counts below 100.109/L.
Study context
- Population
- Adults receiving VV ECMO for respiratory failure
- Participants
- 652 adults
- Exposure
- Thrombocytopenia vs none during VV ECMO
- Outcome
- Incidence, risk factors and clinical relevance (bleeding risk) of thrombocytopenia during VV ECMO
Methodological detailsmulticenter
- Multicenter
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Thrombocytopenia incidence and bleeding risk
Hazard ratio (95% CI)P value
Mild
1.611(1.230–2.109)
P = 0.0005Moderate
1.944(1.484–2.545)
P < 0.0001Severe
1.876(1.275–2.7680)
P = 0.0014- Thrombocytopenia at least once during ECMO
- 80.2%
- Increase in bleeding risk per 10.109/L decrease in platelet count
- 3.7% (95% CI: 2.4-5.0%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Thrombocytopenia at baseline
- Thrombocytopenia at baseline — Any thrombocytopenia at baseline
- 182 (27.9%)
Risk factors for thrombocytopenia < 100.109/L during ECMO
- Risk significantly increased with ICU days before ECMO, postoperative admission, immunocompromised state, RRT, septic shock, low hemoglobin, circuit exchange
Original publication
Incidence, kinetics, and clinical impact of thrombocytopenia in venovenous ECMO: insights from the multicenter observational PROTECMO study. Crit Care. Published 7 August 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →