Different Paths, Same Goals: A Comparative Study on the Safety of Femoral vs. Axillary Arterial Cannulation in VA ECMO.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of cannulation site preference-femoral versus axillary-on postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) due to cardiogenic shock. In this single-center, retrospective study, 85 patients who received peripheral VA ECMO support between January 2013 and July 2023 were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups based on arterial cannulation site: femoral cannulation (FC, n = 47) and axillary cannulation (AC, n = 38). Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were compared. Cannulation-related complications were categorized as vascular, neurological, or pulmonary. The primary endpoints were postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality. There were no statistically significant differences between the FC and AC groups in terms of demographics, comorbidities, surgical procedures, or ECMO weaning times. Rates of vascular, neurological, and pulmonary complications were similar between groups. Mortality and postoperative dialysis rates did not differ significantly. The low rate of ischemic complications in the FC group may be explained by the use of distal perfusion catheters, which are considered the standard approach to prevent leg ischemia. Both cannulation techniques demonstrated comparable safety and efficacy profiles. Both femoral and axillary cannulation sites can be safely used for peripheral VA ECMO when selected based on individual patient conditions and institutional experience. Cannulation strategy should be tailored according to the urgency of the clinical situation, anatomical feasibility, and anticipated duration of support. Further prospective, randomized studies are required to establish the optimal cannulation approach.