Fig. 3

a disease severity: Patients’ disease severity was indicated through different well established ICU scores. SOFA was 12 ± 3, IQR 10–14; Lung Injury Score was 3 ± 0.6, IQR 3–3.7; APACHE II 23 ± 7, IQR 19–28.2; SAPS II 40 ± 13, IQR 32–49; TISS 28 30 ± 8, IQR 26–38. b treatment duration: total length of stay (LOS) in referring hospital: 7.8 ± 15.72 days, IQR 2–8; LOS in our hospital was 31.7 ± 29.7 days, IQR 13–39. Days with mechanical ventilation amounted to 3.7 ± 4.3 days, IQR 1–4. ECMO treatment was performed for 11.5 ± 8.7 days, IQR 6–15; overall days dependent on mechanical ventilation 26.3 ± 26.5 days, IQR 7–33.5. c observed and calculated mortality: SAVE score mean − 7.7 ± 4.0, IQR -7,25- -2.45. Predicted survival from score: 33.5 ± 10.1%, IQR 27.5–36.75%, observed survival in our VA-ECMO cohort: 30%. For VV-ECMO cohort, mean RESP score was 1.7 ± 3.2, IQR 0–4, predicted survival from score 59.6 ± 17.2, IQR 52–75. Observed survival in VV-ECMO cohort: 56.9%