Obstetric management strategies for pregnant patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and associated maternal–fetal outcomes: a multicentre cohort study

Editor—The proportion of women who experience life-threatening complications during pregnancy and childbirth has continued to increase in recent years. This trend might be attributed to the changing demographics of childbirth, including the increase in average age of women giving birth and the rising prevalence of chronic health conditions. 1 Liu J. Song L. Qiu J. et al. Reducing maternal mortality in China in the era of the two-child policy. BMJ Glob Health. 2020; 5: e2157 Crossref PubMed Scopus (26) Google Scholar ,2 Park K. Bairey M.C. Bello N.A. et al. Management of women with acquired cardiovascular disease from pre-conception through pregnancy and postpartum: JACC Focus Seminar 3/5. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021; 77: 1799-1812 Crossref PubMed Scopus (28) Google Scholar Cardiovascular disease represents the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill pregnant women. Peripartum extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use was associated with favourable maternal outcomes in a recent systematic review 3 Naoum E.E. Chalupka A. Haft J. et al. Extracorporeal life support in pregnancy: a systematic review. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020; 9e16072 Crossref PubMed Scopus (85) Google Scholar and in an Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry study. 4 Ramanathan K. Tan C.S. Rycus P. et al. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in pregnancy: an analysis of the extracorporeal life support organization registry. Crit Care Med. 2020; 48: 696-703 Crossref PubMed Scopus (29) Google Scholar