The Importance of Timing in Post-Cardiotomy Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: a Descriptive Multicenter Observational Study.

Intra-operative and post-operative ECMO implantations are associated with different patients' characteristics and outcomes, with higher complications and in-hospital mortality after post-operative ECMO. Strategies to identify the optimal location and timing of post-cardiotomy ECMO in relation to specific patient's characteristics are warranted to optimize in-hospital outcomes.