Background: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has been increasingly utilized as a life-saving modality in patients with cardiopulmonary compromise. Acute limb ischemia (ALI) has been reported when the femoral artery was accessed, and it was associated with higher mortality in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). However, prior studies were limited by small sample size and the lack of long-term follow-up.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose Of Review: Summarize developments in the early postoperative care of patients undergoing cardiac transplantation or left ventricular assist device implantation. Provide a practical approach with personal insights to highly complex patients at risk for prolonged hospitalization.
Recent Findings: Advancements in technology allow for percutaneous mechanical circulatory support of both the right and left ventricles either isolated or combined via subclavian and neck vessels.
Background: Veno-arterial extracorporeal life support (V-A ECLS) has become a cornerstone in the management of critical cardiogenic shock, but it can also precipitate organ injury, e.g., acute kidney injury (AKI).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The objective analysis of nasal airflow stands to benefit greatly from the adoption of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) methodologies. In this emerging field, no standards currently exist in regard to the ideal modeling parameters of the nasal airway. Such standards will be necessary for this tool to become clinically relevant.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Renal failure is a common occurrence in patients with refractory cardiogenic shock including those supported with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Prevalence and outcome of acute and chronic kidney failure in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients have not been well documented. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of acute and chronic kidney failure in veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients as well as predictors for survival.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (pVA-ECMO) has gained increasing value in the management of patients with critical cardiogenic shock (cCS), allowing time for myocardial recovery. Failure of myocardial recovery has life-altering consequences: transition to durable mechanical circulatory support (dMCS), urgent heart transplantation, or withdrawal of support. Clinical factors controlling myocardial recovery under these circumstances remain largely unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In patients supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and who develop heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, there is no clear evidence to support changing to a non-heparin-coated extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit. Our goal was to evaluate clinical outcomes of patients who were continued on heparin-bonded circuits despite diagnosed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
Methods: We completed a single-center retrospective study of all patients who underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support from July 2008 to July 2017 and were tested heparin-induced thrombocytopenia positive while on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.
Translational research is a useful tool to provide scientific evidence for cannula selection during extracorporeal life support (ECLS). The objective of this study was to evaluate four Avalon Elite bi-caval dual lumen cannulas and nine femoral arterial cannulas in terms of flow range, circuit pressure, pressure drop, and hemodynamic energy transmission in a simulated adult ECLS model. A veno-venous ECLS circuit was used to evaluate four Avalon Elite bi-caval dual lumen cannulas (20, 23, 27, and 31 Fr), and a veno-arterial ECLS circuit was used to evaluate nine femoral arterial cannulas (15, 17, 19, 21, and 23 Fr).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objective of this study is to evaluate the hemodynamic characteristics of two femoral arterial cannulae in terms of circuit pressure, pressure drop, and hemodynamic energy transmission under non-pulsatile and pulsatile modes in a simulated adult extracorporeal life support (ECLS) system. The ECLS circuit consisted of i-cor diagonal pump and console (Xenios AG, Heilbronn, Germany), an iLA membrane ventilator (Xenios AG), an 18 Fr or 16 Fr femoral arterial cannula (Xenios AG), and a 23/25 Fr Estech remote access perfusion (RAP) femoral venous cannula (San Ramon, CA, USA). The circuit was primed with lactated Ringer's solution and packed red blood cells to achieve a hematocrit of 35%.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objective of this study was to evaluate a pulsatile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system in terms of hemodynamic energy generation and transmission under various pulsatile amplitudes, flow rates, and pseudopatient pressures in a simulated adult ECMO circuit. Surplus hemodynamic energy (SHE), a measure of the quality of pulsatility, was used to quantify pulsatile flow. The circuit consisted of an i-cor diagonal pump, an adult XLung oxygenator, a 21 Fr Medtronic Biomedicus femoral arterial cannula, a 23/25 Fr Sorin RAP femoral venous cannula, and 3/8 in ID tubing for both arterial and venous lines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBecause of the risks associated with extended mechanical ventilation, it is desirable to extubate patients as early as possible. However, weaning patients from mechanical ventilation too early has risks associated with it as well. Thus, it is important to note that in the two cases presented here, pressure-supported breaths were falsely triggered by a patient's a Syncardia® total artificial heart (TAH), influencing decisions about weaning the patient from mechanical ventilation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objective of this study was to evaluate three commercially available ECLS systems with rotary pumps in terms of circuit pressure, pressure drop, perfusion modes, and hemodynamic energy transmission in a simulated adult cardiogenic shock model. One circuit consisted of a Cardiohelp system, which included a Cardiohelp console and HLS Module Advanced 7.0 tubing set with integrated centrifugal pump and oxygenator.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Acute myocardial infarction is the most common cause of cardiogenic shock. Although the number of patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock who were treated with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation increased during the last decade, detailed data on survival are lacking. We sought to analyze covariates that were independently associated with survival in this patient population and to externally validate the newly developed prEdictioN of Cardiogenic shock OUtcome foR Acute myocardial infarction patients salvaGed by venoarterial Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ENCOURAGE) score.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVeno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) provides mechanical circulatory support for patients with advanced cardiogenic shock, facilitating myocardial recovery and limiting multi-organ failure. In patients with severely limited left ventricular ejection, peripheral VA-ECMO can further increase left ventricular and left atrial pressures (LAP). Failure to decompress the left heart under these circumstances can result in pulmonary edema and upper body hypoxemia, that is, myocardial and cerebral ischemia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To examine real-world outcomes of survival, length of stay, and discharge destination, among all adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation admissions in one state over nearly a decade.
Design: Retrospective analysis of administrative discharge data.
Setting: State-wide administrative discharge data from Pennsylvania between 2007 and 2015.
Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation with ECMO support (ECPR) has shown to improve outcome in patients after cardiac arrest under resuscitation. Most current recommendations for ECPR do not include patients with a non-shockable rhythm such as PEA and asystole.
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of 3 patient groups separated by initial rhythm at time of ECMO placement during CPR: asystole, PEA and shockable rhythm.
In several case reports and case series, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during chest compression (CPR) has been shown to be a reasonable tool to improve outcome of patients under resuscitation. Although recommendations for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) include younger patients with shockable rhythm and short previous CPR-time, it remains unclear if nonhighly selected patients have a similar outcome. Aim of this study was to determine outcome in our nonhighly selected patient population treated with ECPR and investigate possible predictors of survival.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAs a bridge to transplant, the Syncardia™ total artificial heart (TAH) is an option for patients who are not candidates for left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) due to right ventricular failure. The need for nutritional support in these patients is essential for a favorable outcome. Low body mass indexes and albumin levels have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgery patients [Alverdy 2003].
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Syncardia™ total artificial heart (TAH) is an option for patients as a bridge to transplant in those who are not candidates for left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) due to right ventricular failure. Postoperative course is highly dependent on volume status and aggressive diuresis is often necessary. One complication from aggressive diuresis is hypokalemia; however, in these patients we tolerate a lower potassium level because cardiac arrhythmias are not a concern.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Space-consuming mediastinal tumors can create respiratory failure.
Methods: We are reporting on a case of mediastinal lymphoma, which created respiratory failure in our patient. IV steroid therapy was used in our patient, who presented with end-stage respiratory failure.
Use of the Avalon Elite bicaval dual lumen catheter (Maquet Cardiopulmonary AG, Rastatt, Germany) can be effective in patients requiring venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) for adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Proper placement of the cannula is important in providing adequate therapy and avoiding life-threatening complications. We report a case of successful cannulation in a patient with an implanted atrial septal defect (ASD) occlusion device who developed severe refractory ARDS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLimb ischemia is a complication that can occur in patients requiring percutaneously placed venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). One method used to prevent limb ischemia is the placement of an antegrade catheter into the superficial femoral artery. We describe a case is which the angiographic findings of the superficial femoral artery were improved by the injection of verapamil in a patient with limb ischemia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLeft ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have become more important in the management of patients with advanced heart failure. New generation rotary blood pumps demonstrated survival benefits and improved functional status and quality of life in these patients. Although a variety of relevant advances have been achieved in the field of device technology, the risk of severe complications remains.
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