Problems of medical evacuation and in-patient treatment of patients and injured with sudden arrest of circulation occurred outside medical institution

Abstract

Relevance. According to the data of the international register, the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with mechanical circulatory support in the cardiopulmonary-cerebral resuscitation complex can save up to 30% among patients with sudden cardiac death.Intention. Analyze the main logistical and organizational problems of patient treatment identified over the two years of operation of the Center for the Treatment of Sudden Cardiac Death.Methods. A retrospective analysis of patients admitted in the period from October 2017 to January 2020 in a state of clinical death to the Center for the Treatment of Sudden Cardiac Death of a university clinic was carried out.Results and Discussion. In the course of the analysis, the criteria for connecting ECMO- cardiopulmonary resuscitation were developed. In most cases, the primary cause of death was cardiogenic factors (AMI, PE, fatal arrhythmias, etc.), while AMI was confirmed in 33 episodes. During the entire period of the Center’s operation, not a single patient has been admitted that fully meets the criteria for ECMO- cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, the technology has been used as therapy for “despair” on six occasions. The main problem at present is long-term and multistage care outside the medical organization. The possibility of using ECMO posthumously was studied in order to preserve the organs of the corpse for subsequent transplantation. During two years of work, 11 effective donors were conditioned, thanks to which 22 kidney transplants and 2 liver transplants were successfully performed at the University.Conclusion. The experience gained has shown the need to revise the algorithms for providing care to patients with sudden circulatory arrest outside the medical organization, in order to expedite transportation to the ECMO center. In the case of ineffectiveness of extended resuscitation in the clinic, it is possible to consider the use of post mortem technology for conditioning a potential posthumous donor for the preservation of organs for the purpose of their subsequent transplantation.