The Influence of a Dedicated and Protocolized Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA-ECMO) Strategy on Patient Outcomes: A Before and After Study

Background: Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) pump flow is crucial for maintaining organ perfusion in patients with cardiogenic shock, but VA-ECMO pump flow optimization remains as a clinical challenge. This study aimed to investigate the response of sublingual microcirculation to changes in VA-ECMO pump flow.Methods: Sublingual microcirculation was measured before and after changing VA-ECMO pump flow according to the treatment plan of ECMO team within 24 h and at 24-48 h after VA-ECMO placement. In clinical events of increasing VA-ECMO pump flow, those events with increased perfused vessel density (PVD) were grouped into group A, and the others were grouped into group B. In clinical events of decreasing VA-ECMO pump flow, those events with increased PVD were grouped into group C, and the others were grouped into group D.Results: Increased PVD was observed in 60% (95% CI, 38.5–81.5%) of the events with increasing VA-ECMO pump flow. The probability of increasing PVD after increasing VA-ECMO pump flow were higher in the events with a PVD < 15 mm/mm2 at baseline than those with a PVD ≥ 15 mm/mm2 [100% (95% CI, 54.1–100%) vs. 42.9% (95% CI, 17.7–71.1%), P = 0.042]. Other microcirculatory and hemodynamic parameters at baseline did not differ significantly between group A and B or between group C and D.Conclusion: This study revealed contradictory and non-contradictory responses of sublingual microcirculation to changes in VA-ECMO pump flow. Tandem measurements of microcirculation before and after changing VA-ECMO pump flow may help to ensure a good microcirculation.

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Chlorhexidine bathing of the exposed circuits in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: an uncontrolled before-and-after study

Critical Care ◽

10.1186/s13054-020-03310-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hye Ju Yeo ◽

Dohyung Kim ◽

Mihyang Ha ◽

Hyung Gon Je ◽

Jeong Soo Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Blood Stream Infection ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Blood Stream ◽

Microbial Colonization ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Intervention Period ◽

Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Before And After ◽

Before And After Study

Abstract Background Although the prevention of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) catheter-related infection is crucial, scientific evidence regarding best practices are still lacking. Methods We conducted an uncontrolled before-and-after study to test whether the introduction of disinfection with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) of the exposed circuits and hub in patients treated with ECMO would affect the rate of blood stream infection (BSI) and microbial colonization of the ECMO catheter. We compared the microbiological and clinical data before and after the intervention. Results A total of 1740 ECMO catheter days in 192 patients were studied. These were divided into 855 ECMO catheter days in 96 patients before and 885 ECMO catheter days in 96 patients during the intervention. The rates of BSI were significantly decreased during the intervention period at 11.7/1000 ECMO catheter days before vs. 2.3/1000 ECMO catheter days during (difference 9.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5–17.3, p = 0.019). Furthermore, the colonization of the ECMO catheter was similarly significantly reduced during the intervention period at 10.5/1000 ECMO catheter days before vs. 2.3/1000 ECMO catheter days during intervention (difference 8.3, 95% CI 0.7–15.8, p = 0.032). Hospital mortality (41.7% vs. 24%, p = 0.009) and sepsis-related death (17.7% vs. 6.3%, p = 0.014) were also significantly decreased during intervention. Conclusion Extensive disinfection of exposed ECMO circuits and hub with 2% CHG/IPA was associated with a reduction in both BSI and microbial colonization of ECMO catheters. A further randomized controlled study is required to verify these results. Trial registration KCT 0004431

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Sedation with alfentanil versus fentanyl in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: outcomes from a single-centre retrospective study

Perfusion ◽

10.1177/0267659119858037 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 104-109

Author(s):

Mike Barker ◽

Alison A Dixon ◽

Luigi Camporota ◽

Nick A Barrett ◽

Ruth Y Y Wan

Keyword(s):

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Patient Outcomes ◽

Total Daily Dose ◽

Patient Demographics ◽

Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Published Evidence ◽

Daily Dose ◽

Before And After ◽

Analgesic Agents ◽

Score Apache

Introduction: In November 2016, our institution switched from alfentanil to fentanyl for analgesia and sedation in adult patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. There is no published evidence comparing the use of alfentanil with fentanyl for sedation in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients. We conducted a retrospective observational study to explore any significant differences in patient outcomes or in the prescribing of adjunct sedatives before and after the switch. Methods: Patients were retrospectively identified from a prospectively recorded database of all patients who received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at our institution between January 2016 and October 2017. Patients included those sedated with alfentanil or fentanyl. The total daily doses of intravenous opioids (alfentanil or fentanyl) were calculated for each patient, and the prescribing of adjunctive sedative or analgesic agents was recorded. Patient demographics, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation modality, clinical outcomes including mortality and length of intensive care and hospital stay were recorded. Results: A total of 174 patients were identified, 69 on alfentanil and 95 on fentanyl. There was no difference found between groups for mode of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, age, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation 2 score (APACHE II) and Charlson score, except for body mass index (p = 0.002). No differences in patient outcomes was observed between groups, although patients in the alfentanil group received a significantly higher median total daily dose of adjuvant sedatives (quetiapine (p = 0.016) and midazolam (p = 0.009)). Conclusions: No differences in patient outcomes were found between extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients sedated with alfentanil compared with fentanyl. There was a statistically significant reduction in some adjunctive sedatives in patients managed with a fentanyl-based regimen. Prospective studies are required to confirm these results.

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Influence of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on serum microRNA expression

Journal of International Medical Research ◽

10.1177/0300060519884502 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 47 (12) ◽

pp. 6109-6119

Author(s):

M. Scettri ◽

H. Seeba ◽

D. L. Staudacher ◽

S. Robinson ◽

D. Stallmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Real Time ◽

Underlying Disease ◽

Real Time Quantitative Pcr ◽

Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Serum Microrna ◽

Clinical Biomarkers ◽

Differentially Expressed Mirnas ◽

Before And After ◽

Medical Intensive Care

Objective To date, no biomarkers have been established to predict haematological complications and outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of a panel of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are promising biomarkers in many clinical fields, in patients before and after initiating ECMO. Methods Serum miRNA levels from 14 patients hospitalized for acute respiratory failure and supported with ECMO in our medical intensive care unit were analysed before and 24 hours after ECMO. In total, 179 serum-enriched miRNAs were profiled by using a real-time PCR panel. For validation, differentially expressed miRNAs were individually quantified with conventional real-time quantitative PCR at 0, 24, and 72 hours. Results Under ECMO support, platelet count significantly decreased by 65 × 103/µL (25th percentile = 154.3 × 103/µL; 75th percentile = 33 × 103/µL). Expression of the 179 miRNAs investigated in this study did not change significantly throughout the observational period. Conclusions According to our data, the expression of serum miRNAs was not altered by ECMO therapy itself. We conclude that ECMO does not limit the application of miRNAs as specific clinical biomarkers for the patients’ underlying disease.

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Anticoagulation after VA-ECMO decannulation, providing new insights

European Heart Journal Acute Cardiovascular Care ◽

10.1093/ehjacc/zuab020.168 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

A Maestro-Benedicto ◽

A Duran-Cambra ◽

M Vila-Perales ◽

J Sans-Rosello ◽

J Carreras-Mora ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Cardiogenic Shock ◽

Anticoagulation Therapy ◽

Thromboembolic Events ◽

Bleeding Events ◽

Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Funding Sources ◽

Va Ecmo ◽

A Prospective Study

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. INTRODUCTION Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is an essential tool for the management of refractory cardiogenic shock. Little is known about the incidence of thromboembolic events after V-A ECMO decannulation, although some studies report a high incidence of cannula-related venous thrombosis after venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). Due to this fact, in our institution anticoagulation therapy is systematically prescribed for at least 3 months after VA-ECMO per protocol. AIM The main objective of this study was to explore the feasibility of 3-month anticoagulation therapy after VA-ECMO decannulation. METHODS We performed a prospective study that included 27 consecutive patients who were successfully treated with VA-ECMO in a medical ICU between 2016 and 2019 and were prescribed 3-month anticoagulation therapy per protocol after decannulation. Exclusion criteria was dying on ECMO or while on the ICU. Data analysis included demographics, mean days on ECMO, 3-month survival, and thromboembolic and bleeding events (excluding immediate post-decannulation bleeding, since anticoagulation was prescribed 24h after). RESULTS Our cohort consisted mainly of men (N = 21, 78%), with a mean age of 60 ± 11 years and a mean time on VA-ECMO of 8 ± 3 days, who primarily suffered from post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (N = 9, 34%) or acute myocardial infarction (N = 6, 23%). 5 patients (18%) received a heart transplant. Regarding anticoagulation, 15 patients (60%) had other indications apart from the protocol, like incidental thrombus diagnosis (N = 7, 26%) or valve surgery (N = 5, 18%). Anticoagulation therapy was not feasible in 1 patient (4%) with severe thrombopenia. No patients had severe or life-threatening bleeding events in the follow-up, although 8 patients (30%) had bleeding events, mainly gastrointestinal bleeding (N = 4, 15%), requiring withdrawal of anticoagulation in 1 patient. The incidence of thromboembolic events was 7%; two patients with low-risk pulmonary embolisms. During the 3-month follow-up survival rate was 95%. CONCLUSIONS This is the only study to date addressing the strategy of 3-month anticoagulation therapy after VAECMO, showing it is feasible and safe and may be helpful in reducing or ameliorate thromboembolic complications in the follow-up, although it is not exempt of complications. Abstract Figure. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis

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Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with concomitant Impella versus concomitant intra-aortic-balloon-pump for cardiogenic shock

Perfusion ◽

10.1177/02676591211033947 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 026765912110339

Author(s):

Shek-yin Au ◽

Ka-man Fong ◽

Chun-Fung Sunny Tsang ◽

Ka-Chun Alan Chan ◽

Chi Yuen Wong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Mechanical Circulatory Support ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Circulatory Support ◽

Queen Elizabeth Hospital ◽

Intra Aortic Balloon Pump ◽

Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Va Ecmo

Introduction: The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and Impella are left ventricular unloading devices with peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in place and later serve as bridging therapy when VA-ECMO is terminated. We aimed to determine the potential differences in clinical outcomes and rate of complications between the two combinations of mechanical circulatory support. Methods: This was a retrospective, single institutional cohort study conducted in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong. Inclusion criteria included all patients aged ⩾18 years, who had VA-ECMO support, and who had left ventricular unloading by either IABP or Impella between January 1, 2018 and October 31, 2020. Patients <18 years old, with central VA-ECMO, who did not require left ventricular unloading, or who underwent surgical venting procedures were excluded. The primary outcome was ECMO duration. Secondary outcomes included length of stay (LOS) in the ICU, hospital LOS, mortality, and complication rate. Results: Fifty-two patients with ECMO + IABP and 14 patients with ECMO + Impella were recruited. No statistically significant difference was observed in terms of ECMO duration (2.5 vs 4.6 days, p = 0.147), ICU LOS (7.7 vs 10.8 days, p = 0.367), and hospital LOS (14.8 vs 16.5 days, p = 0.556) between the two groups. No statistically significant difference was observed in the ECMO, ICU, and hospital mortalities between the two groups. Specific complications related to the ECMO and Impella combination were also noted. Conclusions: Impella was not shown to offer a statistically significant clinical benefit compared with IABP in conjunction with ECMO. Clinicians should be aware of the specific complications of using Impella.

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Urgent coronary artery bypass graft surgery supported by veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a report of two cases

Perfusion ◽

10.1177/02676591211008139 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 026765912110081

Author(s):

Tamer Abdalghafoor ◽

Bassam Shoman ◽

Amr Salah Omar ◽

Yasser Shouman ◽

Abdulwahid Almulla

Keyword(s):

Coronary Artery ◽

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Coronary Artery Bypass ◽

Artery Bypass ◽

Bypass Graft ◽

Circulatory Support ◽

Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Cardiac Procedures ◽

Risk Patients ◽

Va Ecmo

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices, especially veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) devices, are increasingly used to shore complex cardiac procedures in high-risk patients. We are reporting two cases where patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) under support of VA-ECMO in the setting of cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction. The patients had different courses, but both survived the initial insult and were weaned successively from VA-ECMO. Our report indicates that VA-ECMO can be used instead of the cardiopulmonary bypass machine (CPB) to support the circulation during CABG surgery in patients with complex coronary anatomy and unstable haemodynamics. Future studies focusing on the long-term outcomes of such patients will probably help to establish the optimal management of this type of patients.

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Anti-Xa activity and hemorrhagic events under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): a multicenter cohort study

Critical Care ◽

10.1186/s13054-021-03554-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Richard Descamps ◽

Mouhamed D. Moussa ◽

Emmanuel Besnier ◽

Marc-Olivier Fischer ◽

Sébastien Preau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Hemorrhagic Complication ◽

Multicenter Cohort Study ◽

Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Multicenter Cohort ◽

Hemorrhagic Event ◽

Hemorrhagic Events ◽

Va Ecmo

Abstract Background Hemorrhagic events remain a major concern in patients under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. We tested the association between anticoagulation levels and hemorrhagic events under ECMO using anti-Xa activity monitoring. Methods We performed a retrospective multicenter cohort study in three ECMO centers. All adult patients treated with veno-venous (VV)- or veno-arterial (VA)-ECMO in 6 intensive care units between September 2017 and August 2019 were included. Anti-Xa activities were collected until a hemorrhagic event in the bleeding group and for the duration of ECMO in the non-bleeding group. All dosages were averaged to obtain means of anti-Xa activity for each patient, and patients were compared according to the occurrence or not of bleeding. Results Among 367 patients assessed for eligibility, 121 were included. Thirty-five (29%) presented a hemorrhagic complication. In univariate analysis, anti-Xa activities were significantly higher in the bleeding group than in the non-bleeding group, both for the mean anti-Xa activity (0.38 [0.29–0.67] vs 0.33 [0.22–0.42] IU/mL; p = 0.01) and the maximal anti-Xa activity (0.83 [0.47–1.46] vs 0.66 [0.36–0.91] IU/mL; p = 0.05). In the Cox proportional hazard model, mean anti-Xa activity was associated with bleeding (p = 0.0001). By Kaplan–Meier analysis with the cutoff value at 0.46 IU/mL obtained by ROC curve analysis, the probability of survival under ECMO without bleeding was significantly lower when mean anti-Xa was > 0.46 IU/mL (p = 0.0006). Conclusion In critically ill patients under ECMO, mean anti-Xa activity was an independent risk factor for hemorrhagic complications. Anticoagulation targets could be revised downward in both VV- and VA-ECMO.

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Successful extracorporeal membrane oxygenation resuscitation of patient with cardiogenic shock induced by phaeochromocytoma crisis mimicking hyperthyroidism: A case report

Open Life Sciences ◽

10.1515/biol-2021-0073 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 746-751

Author(s):

Tao Wang ◽

Qiancheng Xu ◽

Xiaogan Jiang

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Cardiogenic Shock ◽

Tumour Size ◽

Acute Onset ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Vanillylmandelic Acid ◽

Membrane Oxygenation ◽

First Case ◽

Va Ecmo

Abstract A 29-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with the acute onset of palpitations, shortness of breath, and haemoptysis. She reported having an abortion (56 days of pregnancy) 1 week before admission because of hyperthyroidism diagnosis during pregnancy. The first diagnoses considered were cardiomyopathy associated with hyperthyroidism, acute left ventricular failure, and hyperthyroidism crisis. The young woman’s cardiocirculatory system collapsed within several hours. Hence, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) was performed for this patient. Over the next 3 days after ECMO was established, repeat transthoracic echocardiography showed gradual improvements in biventricular function, and later the patient recovered almost completely. The patient’s blood pressure increased to 230/130 mm Hg when the ECMO catheter was removed, and then the diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma was suspected. Computed tomography showed a left suprarenal tumour. The tumour size was 5.8 cm × 5.7 cm with central necrosis. The vanillylmandelic acid concentration was 63.15 mg/24 h. Post-operation, pathology confirmed phaeochromocytoma. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a patient with cardiogenic shock induced by phaeochromocytoma crisis mimicking hyperthyroidism which was successfully resuscitated by VA ECMO.

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Biventricular Unloading with Impella and Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Severe Refractory Cardiogenic Shock: Implications from the Combined Use of the Devices and Prognostic Risk Factors of Survival

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10040747 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 747

Author(s):

Georgios Chatzis ◽

Styliani Syntila ◽

Birgit Markus ◽

Holger Ahrens ◽

Nikolaos Patsalis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Cardiogenic Shock ◽

Risk Scores ◽

Circulatory Support ◽

Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ◽

Refractory Cardiogenic Shock ◽

Lactate Levels ◽

Va Ecmo

Since mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices have become integral component in the therapy of refractory cardiogenic shock (RCS), we identified 67 patients in biventricular support with Impella and venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA-ECMO) for RCS between February 2013 and December 2019 and evaluated the risk factors of mortality in this setting. Mean age was 61.07 ± 10.7 and 54 (80.6%) patients were male. Main cause of RCS was acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (74.6%), while 44 (65.7%) were resuscitated prior to admission. The mean Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score (SOFA) score on admission was 73.54 ± 16.03 and 12.25 ± 2.71, respectively, corresponding to an expected mortality of higher than 80%. Vasopressor doses and lactate levels were significantly decreased within 72 h on biventricular support (p < 0.05 for both). Overall, 17 (25.4%) patients were discharged to cardiac rehabilitation and 5 patients (7.5%) were bridged successfully to ventricular assist device implantation, leading to a total of 32.8% survival on hospital discharge. The 6-month survival was 31.3%. Lactate > 6 mmol/L, vasoactive score > 100 and pH < 7.26 on initiation of biventricular support, as well as Charlson comorbity index > 3 and prior resuscitation were independent predictors of survival. In conclusion, biventricular support with Impella and VA-ECMO in patients with RCS is feasible and efficient leading to a better survival than predicted through traditional risk scores, mainly via significant hemodynamic improvement and reduction in lactate levels.

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