The SAVE score calculator assesses the likelihood of survival following veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) based on various clinical parameters. The calculator requires user inputs on specific conditions and characteristics of the patient, assigns a numerical score to each input, calculates a total score, and then interprets this score in terms of expected in-hospital survival rates. 

The inputs include patient age, weight, etiology of cardiogenic shock, acute and chronic renal failure status, HCO₃ levels before ECMO, duration of intubation before ECMO, peak inspiratory pressure, pre-ECMO cardiac arrest occurrence, diastolic blood pressure status, pulse pressure before ECMO, liver failure, and CNS dysfunction. Each input corresponds to an ordinal category with a predefined score. The table below delineates the scoring criteria:

| Parameter | Options | Score |
|-----------|---------|-------|
| Age, years | 18-38 | 7 |
| | 39-52 | 4 |
| | 53-62 | 3 |
| | >= 63 | 0 |
| Weight | <= 65 kg | 1 |
| | 65-89 kg | 2 |
| | >= 90 kg | 0 |
| Etiology of cardiogenic shock | Myocarditis | 3 |
| | Refractory VT/VF | 2 |
| | Post heart or lung transplantation | 3 |
| | Congenital heart disease | 3 |
| | Other diagnosis requiring VA-ECMO | 0 |
| Acute renal failure | Yes | 3 |
| | No | 0 |
| Chronic renal failure | Yes | 6 |
| | No | 0 |
| HCO₃ before ECMO <= 15 mmol/L [91.5 mg/dL] | Yes | 3 |
| | No | 0 |
| Duration of intubation before ECMO, hours | <= 10 | 0 |
| | 11-29 | 2 |
| | >= 30 | 4 |
| Peak inspiratory pressure <= 20 cmH₂O | Yes | 3 |
| | No | 0 |
| Pre-ECMO cardiac arrest | Yes | 2 |
| | No | 0 |
| Diastolic blood pressure before ECMO >= 40 mmHg | Yes | 3 |
| | No | 0 |
| Pulse pressure before ECMO <= 20 mmHg | Yes | 2 |
| | No | 0 |
| Liver failure | Yes | 3 |
| | No | 0 |
| CNS dysfunction | Yes | 3 |
| | No | 0 |

The total score is obtained by summing the scores associated with each input according to the above table. Based on the total score, the calculator interprets the in-hospital survival probability as follows:

- A score of less than or equal to -10 indicates Class V, with an 18% survival rate.
- A score between -9 and -5 indicates Class IV, with a 30% survival rate.
- A score between -4 and 0 indicates Class III, with a 42% survival rate.
- A score between 1 and 5 indicates Class II, with a 58% survival rate.
- A score greater than 5 indicates Class I, with a 75% survival rate.

The Survival After Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (SAVE) Score is a clinical calculator used in the management of patients undergoing veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). This score is used to predict the survival rates of patients after VA-ECMO, which is a life-support treatment that pumps and oxygenates a patient's blood outside the body, allowing the heart and lungs to rest.

The SAVE Score is applicable to adult patients who are undergoing VA-ECMO for cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. It is particularly useful in helping clinicians to make informed decisions about the initiation of VA-ECMO, and to provide a prognosis to patients and their families.

The score takes into account several variables including age, sex, body mass index, pre-ECMO factors like mechanical ventilation, CPR, and the presence of certain comorbidities, as well as post-ECMO factors like renal replacement therapy and neurological complications.

The SAVE Score should not be used in pediatric patients, or in patients undergoing veno-venous ECMO for respiratory failure, as it has not been validated in these populations.

Survival after veno-arterial-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation score (SAVE score)