Outcomes following repatriation from cardiothoracic intensive care to referring centres

Results 169 patients were transferred from Papworth ICU to a general ICU during the study period. 46 (27.2%) were originally referred for ECMO, 123 (72.8%) in the non-ECMO group were predominantly elective & emergency cardiothoracic surgery patients. The overall median Length of Stay (LoS) in Papworth ICU was 11 days (Interquartile range, IQR, 15.5 days). In the receiving hospital, median LoS was 18 days (IQR 28.5 days) for the ECMO group and 12 (IQR 28.5) days for the Non-ECMO group. 63% of patients survived to be discharged home from the receiving centre across both ECMO & non-ECMO groups. A further 13% and 11.4% respectively of patients were discharged to a rehabilitation facility (either short or long-term). 8 of 46 ECMO patients (16.7%) died following transfer from Papworth ICU to referring centre, 28 of 123 non-ECMO patients died after transfer (22.8%).