Leukocyte Adhesion as an Indicator of Oxygenator Thrombosis During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Therapy?

Thrombosis is the most common technical complication with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Accumulations of leukocytes on the gas exchange membranes within a membrane oxygenator (MO) may initiate thrombosis and influence outcome. MOs (n = 41) were removed routinely from adult patients on ECMO, preserved, and analyzed for their cellular deposits using nuclear (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) and cell type-specific markers (CD45; von Willebrand factor, vWF).

Accumulation of Multipotent Progenitor Cells on Polymethylpentene Membranes During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Multipotent progenitor cells were mobilized during pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). We hypothesize that these cells also adhered onto polymethylpentene (PMP) fibers within the membrane oxygenator (MO) during adult ECMO support. Mononuclear cells were removed from the surface of explanted PMP-MOs (n = 16).