Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
addClaim

The FaciLItated hospital-based ECPR via Helicopter Transport (FLIGHT-to-ECPR) Trial

Authors: Adam Laertes Gottula; Alexander Wilcox; Kevin Sipprell; Pierre Sebastian; Kevin Rixmann; Paul Rees; Rajat Kalra; +9 Authors

The FaciLItated hospital-based ECPR via Helicopter Transport (FLIGHT-to-ECPR) Trial

Abstract

Introduction: Survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains poor, particularly for refractory ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia (VF/VT). Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) improves outcomes when delivered within 60 minutes of low-flow time, yet geographic barriers limit access for rural populations.Research Question/Hypothesis: We hypothesized that a Helicopter-EMS (HEMS)–facilitated, hospital-based ECPR pathway could expand rural access while preserving clinical outcomes comparable to standard ground-transport ECPR.Methods: The FaciLItated hospital-based ECPR via Helicopter Transport (FLIGHT-to-ECPR) Trial is a single-center analysis of prospectively collected registry data (August 2021–December 2025). Adults (18–75 years) with refractory VF/VT OHCA meeting Minnesota Mobile Resuscitation Consortium eligibility criteria and transported by HEMS under mechanical CPR were included. Outcomes were compared 1:1 with a matched cohort treated under the standard ground-transport ECPR protocol, matched on low-flow time. Primary outcome was survival to discharge with favorable neurologic status (CPC 1–2).Results: Forty-five patients underwent FLIGHT activation; 27 (60%) received ECPR (veno-arterial ECMO during cardiac arrest). Mean age was 55.2±15.0 years; 83.7% were witnessed arrests and 69.0% received bystander CPR. Mean 9-1-1–to–hospital arrival time was 72.3±18.2 minutes; HEMS scene and flight times were 18.0±11.6 and 18.6±6.3 minutes, respectively. Among cannulated patients, low-flow time was 85.9±29.3 minutes. Overall favorable neurologic survival was 33.3% (15/45): 25.9% (7/27) in cannulated patients and 44.4% (8/18) in non-cannulated patients achieving ROSC or meeting termination criteria. In matched ECPR patients (n=27/group), low-flow times were similar (85.9±29.3 vs. 87.4±29.0 minutes; p=0.959), with identical favorable neurologic survival (25.9%; p= > 0.99). No differences were observed in cannulation performance, ECMO duration, or hospital length of stay.Conclusions: A HEMS-facilitated, hospital-based ECPR strategy is feasible and safely expands rural access to advanced resuscitation while preserving neurologic outcomes comparable to standard ground-transport ECPR. Geography alone need not preclude ECPR when systems are optimized to maintain timely reperfusion.

  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    selected citations
    These citations are derived from selected sources.
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    0
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Average
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Upload OA version
Are you the author of this publication? Upload your Open Access version to Zenodo!
It’s fast and easy, just two clicks!