Conclusion
We classically learned at medical school that survival is impossible
with pH<7 but this dogma seems, in very selected cases,
challenged considering the rapid development of ECMO programs. Although
survival is possible with an extremely low pH in ECMO patients, it
remains rare. A strong correlation between pH and lactate level as
prognosis factors leads to integrate such parameters to build a new
score to help in the decision-making process of ECMO cannulation. We
observed a survival rate lower than 7% when pH was lower than 7 and
lactates level more than 7. We believe such simple easy reminder rule
might be useful waiting for a better and more appropriate survival score
in this very severe population.