Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with intra-aortic balloon pump for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is currently recommended as a strategy to address the increased afterload in patients who received venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). The benefit of VA-ECMO with IABP in postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock is inconclusive. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the influence of VA-ECMO with IABP for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCS). Methods: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase were searched for all articles published from 1 January, 1964 to July 11, 2020. Retrospective cohort studies targeting the comparison of VA-ECMO with IABP and isolated VA-ECMO were included in this study. Results: We included 2251 patients in the present study (917 patients in the VA-ECMO with IABP group and 1334 patients in the isolated VA-ECMO group). Deaths occurred in 589 of 917 patients (64.2%) in the VA-ECMO with IABP group and occurred in 885 of 1334 patients (66.3%) in isolated VA-ECMO group. Pooling the results of all studies showed that VA-ECMO with IABP was not related to a reduced in-hospital mortality in patients who received VA-ECMO for PCS (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.86–1.04; p = 0.231). In addition, VA-ECMO with IABP was not related to an increased rate of VA-ECMO weaning in patients who received VA-ECMO for PCS (RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.99–1.66; p = 0.058). Conclusions: This study indicates that VA-ECMO with IABP did not improve either in-hospital survival or weaning for VA-ECMO in postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock patients.

Double Distal Perfusion Catheters for Severe Limb Ischemia on the IABP Side in Patients Who Received Femoro-Femoral VA-ECMO With IABP

Background: Limited research is available on the pattern of double distal perfusion catheters in patients on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) with an intra-aortic balloon pump(IABP). Here, we compared the outcomes of a double distal perfusion catheter and conventional treatment in patients who received VA-ECMO with IABP and had severe lower limb ischemia on the IABP side.Methods: We reviewed the data of 15 adult patients with postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock who received VA-ECMO via femoral cannulation combined with an IABP in the contralateral artery that was complicated with severe acute limb ischemia (ALI) on the same side as the IABP between January 2004 and December 2016. Patients underwent symptomatic treatment (conventional group, n = 9) and double distal perfusion catheterization treatment (DDPC group, n = 6). ALI was monitored using near-infrared spectroscopy placed on both calves after double distal perfusion catheters. The outcomes were compared.Results: All 6 patients who underwent double distal perfusion catheters were successfully decannulated without the development of osteofascial compartment syndrome, amputation, or bleeding and infection of the double distal perfusion catheters. The number of patients who weaned from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation successfully in the DDPC and conventional groups was 6 (100%) and 3 (33%, p = 0.028), respectively. The in-hospital mortality rates were 17% and 89% for the DDPC and conventional groups, respectively (p = 0.011).Conclusions: DDPC can be considered a strategy for severe limb ischemia on the IABP side in patients who received femoro-femoral VA-ECMO with IABP.

Postcardiotomy Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Does the Cannulation Technique Influence the Outcome?

Objectives: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) may be cannulated using either central (cannulation of aorta) or peripheral (cannulation of femoral or axillary artery) access. The ideal cannulation approach for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCS) is still unknown. The aim of this study is to compare the outcome of patients with PCS who were supported with central vs. peripheral cannulation.Methods: This is a single-center retrospective data analysis including all VA-ECMO implantations for PCS from January 2011 to December 2017. The central and peripheral approaches were compared in terms of patient characteristics, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, hospitalization length, adverse event rates, and overall survival.Results: Eighty-six patients met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-eight patients (33%) were cannulated using the central approach, and 58 patients (67%) were cannulated using the peripheral approach. Forty-three patients (50%) received VA-ECMO in the operating room and 43 patients (50%) received VA-ECMO in the ICU. Central VA-ECMO group had higher EuroSCORE II (p = 0.007), longer cross-clamp time (p = 0.054), higher rate of open chest after the procedure (p < 0.001), and higher mortality rate (p = 0.02). After propensity score matching, 20 patients in each group were reanalyzed. In the matched groups, no statistically significant differences were observed in the baseline characteristics between the two groups except for a higher rate of open chests in the central ECMO group (p = 0.02). However, no significant differences were observed in the outcome and complications between the groups.Conclusions: This study showed that in postcardiotomy patients requiring VA-ECMO support, similar complication rates and outcome were observed regardless of the cannulation strategy.

Management of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Postcardiotomy Cardiogenic Shock

Patients with postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock refractory to conventional support can be successfully supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Management considerations are discussed to aid clinicians caring for these patients.

Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) for Postcardiotomy Cardiogenic Shock (PCCS) in Asian Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an important extracorporeal life support system to treat patients with postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS). But its effectiveness and safety are still inconclusive. Existing systematic reviews and meta-analysis have heterogeneity challenges such as the inclusion of different races in the same study.Objective The impact of ECMO treatment on the survival rate of Asian adult patients with PCCS was evaluated by searching the literature and using the method of systematic review and meta-analysis.Study Design and Methods PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CNKI, WANFANG MED ONLINE, SinoMed were searched to find relevant research on the use of ECMO on PCCS patients in Asia. Outcomes included survival rate to hospital discharge, long-term survival rate, complications.Results A total of 32 articles were selected, including observational studies and one RCT, involving China and Japan covering 4,278 PCCS patients. The pooled rate of survival to hospital discharge was 43.0% (95% CI 38% ~47%, I2 = 87%), the pooled 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival rate were 34% (95% CI 26% ~ 42%, I2 = 85%), 29% (95% CI 18% ~39%, I2 = 93%), 25% (95%CI 16% ~35%, I2=93%). The pooled rate of bleeding, neurologic complications, rethoracotomy, leg ischemia, renal failure, renal replacement therapy, and infection were 18% (95% CI 13% ~24%, I2=91%), 13% (95% CI 9% ~17%, I2 = 90.0%), 36% (95% CI 27% ~46%, I2 = 97.0%), 11% (95% CI 9% ~13%, I2 = 55%), 40% (95% CI 27% ~54%, I2 = 90%), 45% (95% CI 35% ~ 56%, I2 = 98%), 26% (95%CI (20%~31%, I2=95%).Conclusion ECMO can provide survival benefits for Asian adult patients with PCCS. However, attention should be paid to reducing the incidence of complications, especially renal failure. More high-quality clinical studies are needed to confirm the survival benefit of ECMO.

Risk factors of acute renal injury and in-hospital mortality in adult patients with postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock requiring veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: utility of MELD-XI score

Background: The suitability of model for end-stage liver disease excluding international normalized ratio (MELD-XI) score to predict the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and in-hospital mortality in adult patients with postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCS) requiring venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) remains uncertain. This study was performed to explore whether the MELD-XI score has the association with the incidence of AKI and in-hospital mortality in these patients. Methods: Adult patients with PCS requiring VA ECMO from January 2012 to December 2017 were enrolled and first classified into AKI group ( n = 151) versus no-AKI group ( n = 132), then classified into survival group ( n = 143) versus no-survival group ( n = 140). Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify factors independently associated with AKI and mortality. Baseline data were defined as the first measurement available. Results: Of 283 patients, the incidence of AKI was 53.36%. The in-hospital mortality rates were 63.58% and 33.33% in patients with and without AKI (p < 0.0001). Baseline MELD-XI score, baseline serum total bilirubin (T-Bil), baseline blood urea nitrogen (BUN), baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, and lactate level at ECMO initiation were shown to be associated with the AKI. Vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) and SOFA score at ECMO initiation as well as renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) were shown to be associated with in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: The baseline MELD-XI score, baseline BUN, baseline T-Bil, baseline LVEF, SOFA score and lactate at the initiation of ECMO were associated with AKI. AKI, SOFA score, and VIS at the initiation of ECMO were associated with in-hospital mortality, whereas MELD-XI score was not found to be associated with in-hospital mortality. A specific MELD-XI score as a threshold, as well as its sensitivity and specificity, needs to be confirmed in further studies.

Gender-related propensity score match analysis of ECMO therapy in postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock in patients after myocardial revascularization

Background: Gender is known to influence the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of the coronary vascular disease. Data on gender-related differences in patients with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation due to postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock is lacking in current literature. We aimed to analyze the impact of gender on intraoperative and short-term outcomes of vaECMO patients after coronary surgery and postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock. Methods: Between 2006 and 2017, a total of 92 patients with PCS after CABG underwent vaECMO-implantation at our institution. After a 1:1 propensity score match (PSM) for relevant preoperative data, we identified a cohort of 32 patients, 16 males, and 16 females. Periprocedural and short-term outcome data were analyzed with respect to sex differences. Results: The mean age was 64 ± 11 years, and 79% ( n = 73) were male patients. Clinical outcomes showed a 30-day all-cause mortality of 64% ( n = 59). After PSM, male patients showed a significantly smaller number of arterial grafts (0.4 ± 0.53 male vs 1.1 ± 0.7 female; p = 0.037). Thirty-day all-cause mortality did not differ between the groups (56% male vs 75% female; p = 0.262). In general, short-term outcome data were comparable without significant differences for the matched groups. Conclusion: Gender has no impact on patients with vaECMO therapy due to PCS in isolated coronary surgery.