Could putting a Heart-Lung machine at the scene save more cardiac arrest victims?

NCT ID NCT02527031

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jul 01, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This study tested whether starting ECMO (a heart-lung bypass machine) right at the location of a cardiac arrest, rather than waiting until the patient reaches the hospital, could improve survival with good brain function. Researchers enrolled 65 adults with refractory cardiac arrest. The goal was to see if early ECMO could raise survival from around 5% to 20%.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation)
What this could lead to: If pre-hospital ECMO works better, it could significantly increase survival rates for people who suffer a cardiac arrest outside the hospital.
What could go wrong: This is a small, completed study with only 65 participants, so results may not apply broadly. ECMO carries risks like bleeding and infection, and the benefit over standard care is not yet proven.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cardiac arrest Death, Sudden

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CARDIAC ARREST SUDDEN DEATH

Contacts and locations

Locations

Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades

Paris, 75015, France

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