Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support Time Research Articles

Functional and Social Recovery and Outcomes After Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support in COVID-19 Patients.

With the COVID pandemic, veno-venous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was implanted in many patients around the world. Data regarding follow-up and recovery of patients who are placed on ECMO support after COVID-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or ARDS for any other reason are limited. In our study, we share the 1 year follow-up results and cardiopulmonary exercise test results of the discharged patients. Between April 2020 and February 2022, a total of 29 patients who were supported with VV ECMO due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related ARDS, weaned successfully and discharged to home, and who came for regular follow-up after discharge from the hospital and underwent examinations were included in the study. A total of 35 patients weaned successfully. Thirty patients were discharged to home. Mean age of the patients was 37.1 (±10.3) and 16 (55%) patients were male. Mean ECMO support time was 49.1 (±22.3) days. One year of survival after discharge was 100%. None of the patients had mobilization problems at the end of 12 month follow-up. Mean VO2 max was 18.9 at the end of 12 months. Return to work rate was 90%. We think that starting rehabilitation in the early period, and including patients in post-ECMO follow-up programs by ECMO centers will contribute significantly not only to the functional recovery of patients but also to their integration into social life.

Outcomes of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients with high body mass index undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support

To evaluate the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) related outcomes during hospitalization during the intensive care unit (ICU) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients with high body mass index (BMI, > 25 kg/m2) undergoing lung transplantation with ECMO support. A retrospective observational study was conducted. IPF patients who received ECMO during lung transplantation admitted to the Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from 2019 to 2020 were enrolled. Preoperative indicators including, demographics, comorbidities, arterial blood gas, and laboratory indicators; intraoperative indicators, such as lung lobe volume reduction, surgical type, surgical time, cold ischemia time, blood loss and transfusion volume; immediate indicators upon admission to the ICU, such as blood gas analysis and laboratory indicators; ECMO related outcomes, such as ECMO mode, ECMO support time, ECMO related complications (bleeding at the catheterization site, intraductal thrombosis, lower limb ischemia), and the length of ICU stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and 30-day survival rate were collected. According to BMI, patients were divided into three groups: light weight group (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight group (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), and overweight group (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2). Mainly to compare the relevant outcomes of ECMO among patients during ICU. A total of 114 IPF patients who received ECMO support during lung transplantation were collected, including 23 cases in the light weight group, 63 cases in the normal weight group, and 28 cases in the overweight group. Compared with patients with underweight and normal weight, overweight patients were more likely to have hypertension (46.4% vs. 8.7%, 23.8%, P < 0.01) and coronary heart disease (32.1% vs. 4.3%, 20.6%, P < 0.05) before surgery, which was consistent with international guidelines for obesity. Other clinical data (preoperative, intraoperative, ICU characteristics) showed no statistically significant differences and were comparable. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of ECMO related outcomes, such as ECMO related complications [veno-venous (V-V) mode: 78.3%, 77.8%, 78.6%, veno-arterial (V-A) mode: 21.7%, 22.2%, 21.4%], ECMO support time (hours: 61.70±20.03, 44.57±5.76, 41.77±7.26), ECMO related complications (bleeding at the catheterization site: 4.3%, 7.9%, 14.3%; intraductal thrombosis: 8.7%, 12.7%, 17.9%; lower limb ischemia: 8.7%, 12.7%, 14.3%), and the length of ICU stay (days: 11±3, 7±1, 9±1), duration of mechanical ventilation [days: 2 (2, 11), 2 (2, 6), 3 (2, 8)] among the light weight group, normal weight group, and overweight group (all P > 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the 30-day cumulative survival rate among the three groups (Log-Rank test: χ 2 = 0.919, P = 0.632). High BMI does not worsen ECMO-related outcomes or adversely affect early prognosis in IPF patients undergoing lung transplantation. BMI as a single parameter should not be a contraindication for the use of ECMO in lung transplantation surgery for IPF patients.

Application of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients With Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia Following Kidney Transplantation: A Case Series.

Objective: To investigate the application effect of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) after kidney transplantation. Methods: This is a case series on 10 kidney transplant recipients with severe ARDS caused by PJP at the People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou, who were enrolled as the case group. A total of 17 cases of PJP diagnosed with severe ARDS without ECMO were selected as the control group. The timing and mode of ECMO support and treatment complications were summarized. The primary aim of this study was mortality and secondary was imaging and complications. Results: The enrolled patients’ oxygenation index before the start of ECMO ranged from 25 to 92, and the time from admission to the start of ECMO was 1–17 days, with an average of 5.56 days. In the case group, one patient died of hemorrhagic shock due to abdominal hemorrhage, but the other nine patients were successfully weaned from ECMO. Of these patients, one died due to sepsis following weaning. The survival rate in the case group was 80.0% (8/10), and the survival rate in the control group was 35.29% (6/17). The vein–vein ECMO support time in the nine successfully weaned patients in the case group ranged from 131 to 288 h, with an average of 215.5 h. Of the eight patients who survived, deterioration of renal function after transplantation occurred in two patients, but no fatal complications occurred. Conclusion: Overall, Patients with severe ARDS caused by postoperative PJP infection following kidney transplantation have a poor prognosis. The mortality was lower in patients who were treated with ECMO compared to standard care.

Outcomes from the Use of Perioperative Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery: An 8-Year Single-Center Experience.

BackgroundExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) plays an important role in thoracic surgery. This retrospective study from a single center aimed to evaluate patient outcomes from the use of perioperative ECMO in 22 patients undergoing thoracic surgery during an 8-year period.Material/MethodsData were collected retrospectively from 22 patients who received ECMO (veno-arterial and veno-venous ECMO) as perioperative treatment during general thoracic surgery from January 2012 to October 2020. Patients required ECMO due to perioperative cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (2 cases), perioperative pulmonary embolism (PE) (2 cases), lung transplant (4 cases), undergoing complicated thoracic surgery (5 cases), postoperative acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (6 cases), and thoracic trauma (3 cases).ResultsVeno-arterial ECMO was used for circulatory support in 13 cases and veno-venous ECMO was used for respiratory support in 9 cases. The average ECMO support time was 71.6±42.4 h. Twenty patients (90.9%) were successfully decannulated and 17 (77.2%) survived to discharge. Complications included severe hemorrhage (3/22 patients, 13.6%), sepsis (3/22, 13.6%), and destruction of blood cells (1/22, 4.5%). There were no significant differences in survival rates between patients receiving pre- or postoperative ECMO (P=0.135) or between veno-venous ECMO (V-V ECMO) and veno-arterial ECMO (V-A ECMO) (P=0.550).ConclusionsThe findings from this small retrospective study from a single center showed that perioperative ECMO improved cardiac and respiratory function in patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Optimal results require surgeons to have an understanding of the indications and ability to control the complications of ECMO.

Implementation of Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Nonintubated Patients.

BackgroundAlthough extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is generally performed percutaneously, the technology is deployed under sedation and necessitates endotracheal intubation. However, in some patients, the use of venoarterial (VA) ECMO without intubation may be beneficial. Herein, we describe our experiences with VA ECMO performed without prior endotracheal intubation.MethodsA total of 783 patients treated with VA ECMO at a single center between January 2013 and July 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. We included patients who underwent successful VA ECMO implementation without prior endotracheal intubation, and excluded those who were younger than 18 years, had ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation status, and had poor quality of the vessels needed for percutaneous cannulation. The primary study outcome was in-hospital survival.ResultsIn total, 50 patients were included in this study, 94% of whom showed cardiogenic shock. The mean age of the study participants was 56.3±14.5 years. The median VA ECMO support time was 7 days (range, 2–13 days). Twenty-one patients (42%) did not receive ventilator care during the VA ECMO support period, while 29 patients (58%) progressed to intubation after VA ECMO implementation. The rates of survival at discharge and weaning success were 82% (n=41) and 92% (n=46), respectively, and 80% (n=40) of patients presented good Glasgow–Pittsburgh Cerebral Performance Categories scores at discharge.ConclusionEven in patients with cardiogenic shock, percutaneous VA ECMO can be introduced safely without prior endotracheal intubation by an experienced care team. The application of nonintubated VA ECMO might be a feasible strategy in selected cases.

Brain magnetic resonance imaging in adult survivors of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Despite the common occurrence of neurologic complications in patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), data on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in adult ECMO are limited. We aimed to describe the MRI findings of patients after ECMO cannulation. Records of patients who underwent ECMO from September 2017 to June 2019 were reviewed. MRI studies were performed using multiplanar sequences consisting of T1-, T2-weighted, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and susceptibility weighted images (SWI). Of the 78 adult patients who underwent ECMO, 26 (33%) survived. Of 26, eight patients (31%) had MRI studies, with a median age of 47 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 25-57). The median ECMO support time was 8 days (IQR: 4-25) and the median time from decannulation to MRI was 12 days (IQR: 1-34). Five (63%) of eight patients had ischemic infarcts; 4 (50%) had cerebral microhemorrhage; 2 (25%) had intracranial hemorrhage; and 1 (13%) had thoracic cord ischemic infarct. There were no patients with normal MRI. All patients underwent transcranial Doppler (TCD). Four of 8 (50%) showed presence of microemboli with TCD; 3 of 4 (75%) had ischemic infarcts; and 1 of 4 (25%) had presence of multiple cerebral microhemorrhages on MRI. All ischemic infarcts had diffuse pattern of punctate to small lesions for ECMO survivors. The location of cerebral microhemorrhages included lobar (n = 4, 100%), deep (n = 2, 50%), and both (n = 2, 50%). Of the MRI studies, cerebrovascular related lesions were the most frequent, with punctate ischemic infarct being the most common type that may be associated with TCD microemboli. The results of the study suggest that subclinical cerebral lesions are commonly found in patients with ECMO support. Further research is needed to understand long-term effect of these cerebral lesions.

Percutaneous Pulmonary Artery Venting via Jugular Vein While on Peripheral Extracorporeal Life Support.

Peripheral extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) setting remains a valid option to treat cardiogenic shock (CS). We investigated a percutaneous approach to unload the left ventricle (LV) while on veno-arterial (v-a) peripheral ECMO support. Between 2017 and 2018, eight patients (three females, mean age: 49.6 years old, and five males, mean age: 58 years old, respectively) suffered refractory CS due to acute myocardial infarction (n = 4), acute myocarditis (n = 2), acute decompensation on chronic heart failure (n = 1), and primary graft failure after heart transplantation (Htx) (n = 1), respectively. After a multidisciplinary CS team discussion, it was decided to proceed with peripheral v-a ECMO placement and percutaneous LV venting via right internal jugular vein access to drain the pulmonary artery (PA), in the hybrid operating room. In a single postcardiotomy case, the PA trunk was vented centrally. Mean ECMO support time was 8.5 days. Seven (87.5%) patients were successfully weaned from ECMO and one (12.5%) successfully bridged to Htx. All patients were successfully discharged after treatment except for a single case who died due to sepsis. In case of not recommended usage of LV apical venting, the adoption of v-a peripheral ECMO support associated with percutaneous PA drainage enables the rapid onset of extracorporeal life support with an effective biventricular unloading.

Understanding Characteristics of Acute Brain Injury in Adult Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: An Autopsy Study.

Current studies lack information on characteristics of acute brain injury in patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. We sought to characterize the types, timing, and risk factors of acute brain injury in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Retrospective analysis. We reviewed the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients who had undergone brain autopsy with gross and microscopic examinations from January 2009 to December 2018 from a single tertiary center. Twenty-five patients (median age 53 yr) had postmortem brain autopsy. Description and analysis of neuropathologic findings. Of 25, 22 had venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (88%) (nine cardiac arrest; 13 cardiogenic shock) and three had venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation (12%). The median extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support time was 96 hours (interquartile range, 26-181 hr). The most common acute brain injury was hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (44%), followed by intracranial hemorrhage (24%), and ischemic infarct (16%). Subarachnoid hemorrhage (20%) was the most common type of intracranial hemorrhage, followed by intracerebral hemorrhage (8%), and subdural hemorrhage (4%). Only eight patients (32%) were without acute brain injury after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The most common involved location for hypoxic-ischemic brain injury was cerebral cortices (82%) and cerebellum (55%). The pattern of ischemic infarct was territorial in cerebral cortices. The risk factors for acute brain injury included hypertension history (11 vs 1; p = 0.01), preextracorporeal membrane oxygenation antiplatelet use (7 vs 0; p = 0.03), and a higher day 1 lactate level (10.0 vs 5.1; p = 0.02). Patients with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury had more hypertension (8 vs 4; p = 0.047), a higher day 1 lactate level (12.6 vs 5.8; p = 0.02), and a lower pH level (7.09 vs 7.24; p = 0.027). Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation duration, cannulation methods, hemoglobin level, coma, renal impairment, and hepatic impairment were not associated with acute brain injury. In the population who underwent postmortem neuropathologic evaluation, 68% of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation nonsurvivors developed acute brain injury. Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury was the most common type of injury suggesting that patients sustained acute brain injury as a consequence of cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest. Further research with a systematic neurologic monitoring is necessary to define the timing of acute brain injury in patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

First Experience with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Iran, under Difficult Conditions

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides hemodynamic and oxygenation support in critical conditions. The commencement of this modality in Iran coincided with severe economic constraints across Iran. Methods: This retrospective study was performed in Masih Daneshvari Medical Center from 2010 to 2015, during which period, sanction-related limitations in the import of equipment prompted us to integrate a Medtronic or Stöckert head pump console into a Maquet ECMO Oxygenator so as to sustain the ECMO program. Comparisons were performed between successful and unsuccessful ECMO procedures and survivors. Factors associated with unsuccessful ECMO were evaluated with a multivariate logistic regression. Results: Thirty-three (68.8%) patients were male and 15 (31.2%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 35±16.6 years. Thirty-seven (77.1%) patients were weaned off ECMO successfully; the rate was higher than that in previous studies. Totally, 35.4% of the study population survived to hospital discharge. The most common cause of death in all the ECMO patients who were successfully weaned was sepsis. The most common cause of death in the patients who underwent unsuccessful ECMO was multisystem organ failure. The mean ECMO support time was 53.37±46.26 hours. The patients who were alive at discharge were significantly younger (25.5±14.5 vs. 40.2±15.5 y; P=0.002) and had a significantly lower ECMO duration (24 [25-75% interquartile: 18.5-36] vs. 48 [25-75% interquartile: 24-72] h; P=0.044) than the non-survivors. Conclusion: An assembly of ECMO components from different companies could be done safely, at least for a short period of time.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to lung transplantation

To evaluate the effect of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to lung transplantation (LTx). The clinical data of 18 patients with end-stage lung diseases was retrospectively reviewed, using ECMO as a bridge to LTx in intensive care unit of Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital from January 2015 to December 2017. Clinical parameters were obtained from these patients, including gender, age, primary disease, preoperative lactate level, preoperative leukocyte, operation modality (unilateral or bilateral), type of ECMO, ECMO support time as a bridge to LTx, ECMO support time after operation, total usage time of ECMO, ECMO associated complications, primary graft dysfunction (PGD), successful ECMO weaning, and survival. Patients were divided according to type of ECMO, whether successfully weaned from ECMO or not, and primary disease. Clinical data was compared, and the Kaplan-Meier survival of 180-day was studied. (1) The overall situation showed: A total of 18 patients were enrolled, with 14 males and 4 females, age ranged from 23 to 78 years old. Primary disease included 6 cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 3 cases of idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (IPAH), 8 cases of interstitial pneumonia and 1 case of silicosis. Nine patients received venous-venous (V-V) ECMO and 9 venous-artery (V-A) ECMO as a bridge to LTx; 15 patients received LTx successfully, and failed in 3 cases. The average bridge time was 57.5 (14.5, 116.5) hours. ECMO associated complications included 6 cases with bleeding, 12 cases with renal failure, 2 cases with thrombosis, 2 cases with oxygenator leak, and 1 case with leg ischemia. There were 7 unilateral (5 right lungs and 2 left lungs) and 8 bilateral LTx. Three patients died before LTx due to septic shock. Nine patients died after LTx, 4 for septic shock, 4 for multiple organ failure, and 1 for sudden cardiac death. Six patients survived after LTx. (2) Group comparison showed: There was no significant difference in gender, age, ECMO support time as a bridge to LTx, ECMO support time after operation, total ECMO usage time, incidence of PGD, successful weaning from ECMO, and 180-day survival rate between V-V ECMO group (n = 7) and V-A ECMO group (n = 8). There was no significant difference in gender, age, primary disease, type of ECMO, operation modality, preoperative leukocyte count between groups of successfully weaned from ECMO (n = 11) and the failed (n = 7). Lower level of preoperative lactate acid (mmol/L: 3.01±1.51 vs. 8.27±3.49, t = -3.770, P = 0.006), shorter total ECMO usage time (hours: 72.82±40.53 vs. 210.71±107.10, t = -3.907, P = 0.001), and higher 180-day survival rate (54.5% vs. 0, P = 0.038) were found in the group of successfully weaned from ECMO, when compared with the failed group. (3) Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that postoperative survival rates of 7, 30, 60, and 180 days of 18 patients was 72.2%, 38.9%, 33.3%, and 33.3%, respectively. Among them, the postoperative survival rates of 7, 30, 60, and 180 days in the group of successfully weaned from ECMO (n = 11) were higher than those in group of failed (n = 7; 81.8% vs. 57.1%, 63.6 % vs. 0, 54.5% vs. 0, 54.5% vs. 0, respectively; log-rank test: χ2 = 8.009, P = 0.005). The postoperative survival rates of 7, 30, 60, and 180 days in IPF group (n = 6) were lower than those in non-IPF group (n = 12; 33.3% vs. 83.3%, 16.7% vs. 50.0%, 16.7% vs. 41.7%, 16.7% vs. 41.7%; log-rank test: χ2 = 4.161, P = 0.041). The use of ECMO as a bridge to LTx may provide survival benefit for LTx recipients. V-V ECMO provides effective life support for patients without severe heart failure, and V-A ECMO for patients with unstable hemodynamics. Preoperative lactate level and total ECMO duration time were closely related to ECMO weaning rate. Primary diagnosis may affect prognosis.

Prognostic value of oxygen challenge test for patients with cardiogenic shock receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

To investigate the prognostic value of oxygen challenge test (OCT) for patients with cardiogenic shock receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). A retrospective analysis was conducted. Seventy-eight patients diagnosed with cardiogenic shock receiving veno-arterial (V-A) ECMO admitted to Department of intensive care unit (ICU) of Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from June 2012 to May 2017 were enrolled. Ten-minute OCT was implemented by transcutaneous oximetry at 6 hours after ECMO initiation. The basic data of patients (gender, age, primary disease); the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), mean arterial pressure (MAP) at the start of ECMO treatment; arterial blood gas analysis index, dose of vasoactive agents, transcutaneous oxygen pressure (PtO2), 10-minute OCT value (OCT10), oxygen challenge index (OCI) at 6 hours after ECMO initiation; and the ECMO support time, duration of mechanical ventilation and its parameters, and application of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) within 60 days were recorded. Patients were divided into the survival group and the death group according to their 60-day mortality status, and the differences between the two groups were compared. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was used to analyze the prognostic value of OCT10 and OCI. According to the best boundary value of OCT10 and OCI, Kaplan-Meier survival curve was drawn and the 60-day cumulative survival rate was compared. The risk factors affecting prognosis were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression. Sixty-seven patients were finally enrolled in the study, with 31 in the survival group and 36 in the death group. Compared with the survival group, APACHE II score, SOFA score, use of IABP in death group were higher, PtO2, OCT10 and OCI were lower, and duration of ECMO and ventilation were longer, but there was no significant difference in gender, age, primary disease, LVEF, MAP, ventilator settings, dose of vasoactive agents, or results of arterial blood gas between the two groups. OCT10, OCI, APACHE II score and SOFA score were predictive values for 60-day deaths, and the area under ROC curve (AUC) of OCT10 was 0.866±0.042 [95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.760-0.937], the AUC of OCI was 0.829±0.051 (95%CI = 0.717-0.910), the AUC of APACHE II score was 0.860±0.043 (95%CI = 0.754-0.933), and the AUC of SOFA score was 0.821±0.049 (95%CI = 0.708-0.904) (all P < 0.01). The cut-off point for OCT10 was ≥70.0 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) with the sensitivity of 91.67% and the specificity of 67.74%. The cut-off point for OCI was ≥0.68 with the sensitivity of 88.68% and the specificity of 71.58%. According to the cut-off point for OCT10 or OCI, the 60-day cumulative survival rate of patients with high OCT10 was significantly higher than that of low OCT10 [58.06% (18/31) vs. 36.11% (13/36), χ2 = 5.425, P = 0.020]; the survival rate in high OCI group was significantly higher than that in low OCI group [55.17% (16/29) vs. 39.47% (15/38), χ2 = 5.119, P = 0.024]. It was shown by multivariate Logistic regression that OCT10 [odds ratio (OR) = 0.883, 95%CI = 0.791-0.965, P = 0.006] and OCI (OR = 0.011, 95%CI = 0.001-0.087, P = 0.005) were independent risk factors for 60-day mortality. OCT could predict the prognosis of patients with cardiogenic shock receiving ECMO.

Investigation on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation application in pediatric acute fulminant myocarditis in China

Objective To review multi-center experience on rescue use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO) in pediatric patients with acute fulminant myocarditis and to investigate its short-term outcome in China. Methods The survey was conducted in 28 tertiary hospitals in China mainland.All children<18 years who had been supported with non-open chest ECMO to rescue acute fulminant myocarditis in PICU were reviewed. Results Twenty-three of 63 patients with ECMO support were diagnosed acute fulminant myocarditis.Their mean age was(86.3±48.8)months, mean weight was(25.8±12.1)kg, and mean left ventricular ejection fraction was(39.5±15.6)%.Eighteen patients(78.3%) survived to discharge and 5 cases(21.7%) died.The average length of ECMO was(119.1±57.3)h, (110.6±42.7)h for survival, (150.0±93.8)h for nonsurvival.There was no statistically difference between survival and death in ECMO support time(P=0.41). The mean arterial pressure increased from(60.7±23.7)mmHg(1 mmHg=0.113 kPa) of the beginning to(72.1±9.8)mmHg at 24 h after ECMO treatment, and increase of mean arterial pressure was higher in the survival compared with the nonsurvival(P=0.04). The mean serum lactate decreased from(6.8±5.1)mmol/L at ECMO initiation to(2.9±2.6)mmol/L at 24 h after ECMO treatment, and decrease of serum lactate was higher in survival group compared to nonsurvival group(P<0.001). Twenty-one patients(91.3%) were decanulated from ECMO successfully.Three patients died within 30 days after ECMO support, and eighteen patients survived to hospital discharge.The overall survival rate was 78.3%.There were no significant difference between the death and the survival in ECMO support time(P=0.41) and medical cost(P=0.24). The most common complications during ECMO were bleeding and disfunction of oxygenator.Of the 18 survivors, 15 were followed up, 4 experienced obvious sequelae, and 2 had neurologic issues. Conclusion ECMO is an effective hemodynamic support treatment that confers better clinical outcome for pediatric patients with acute fulminant myocarditis. Key words: Acute fulminant myocarditis; Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Pediatric intensive care unit; Clinical application; Questionnaires,

Investigation on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation application in pediatric intensive care unit in China

To review the use of non-open chest extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in China. The survey was conducted in 28 tertiary hospitals in China mainland from March to October 2015. All children <18 years of age have been supported with non-open chest ECMO in PICU were reviewed.Patient demographics, diagnosis, indication for ECMO, details of ECMO support, complications, and patient survival were analyzed. All the patients were divided according to age into pediatric patients (age>28 d) and neonatal patients (age 0-28 d). For non-normally distributed measurement data, two groups were compared using independent samples of the Mann Whitney U test and for categorical data constitute ratio were compared by χ(2) test or Fisher's exact test. A total of 63 patients received non-open chest ECMO support during this study, including 51 pediatric patients and 12 neonates. For 51 pediatric patients, their mean age was 55.5 (15.0-117.0) months, and mean weight was 17.5 (10.0-32.9) kg. Cardiac failure was the primary indication in 28 patients, respiratory failure in 21 patients, and both cardiac and respiratory in 2 patients. Patients with cardiac disease had a lower mortality rate compared with cases with respiratory disease (21%(6/28) vs. 67% (14/21), χ(2)=9.145, P=0.002). The average length of ECMO run was 112.0 (74.5-175.2) h, and 96.7(76.2-139.5)h for cardiac patients, 149.0(78.9-241.0)h for patients with respiratory disease. There were no significant difference between patients with cardiac disease and patients with respiratory disease in ECMO support time (Z=1.476, P=0.140). Forty-two patients (82%) were decanulated from ECMO successfully, and thirty-one (61%) patients survived to hospital discharge. The most common complications during ECMO run were bleeding, hemolysis and disfunction of oxygenation. Of the 25 (49%) survivors whom we followed up, 8 (17%) experienced obvious sequelae, and 5 (10%) had neurologic problems. Of twelve neonates, their mean weight was(3.2±0.5)kg. The primary cause of ECMO was neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(7 cases). All of the neonatal patients were treated with veno-arterial (VA)-ECMO. The mean duration of ECMO support was 88.4 (45.50-110.25) h. Seven patients were decanulated from ECMO successfully, five survived to hospital discharge. ECMO support can significantly improve the prognosis of pediatric and neonatal patients with refractory respiratory and cardiac failure. More efforts are needed on patient selection, experienced team establishment and ECMO therapy technology improvement need further improvement in China in the future.

A follow-up study on acute respiratory distress syndrome survivors after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation by pulmonary high-resolution CT.

This study aims to identify morphological changes in the lung parenchyma of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) survivors after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) follow-up. Factors influencing these changes are also examined. Information and lung HRCT scans were collected and studied 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the withdrawal of severe ARDS survivors rescued by ECMO in the Respiratory Care Unit of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from November 2009 to August 2012. The observation endpoint was set as the time when the lung lesions were basically absorbed or 12 months after withdrawal. Among nine survivors, one survivor was lost to follow-up. The lesions of two patients, which were attributed to bacterial pneumonia and pneumocystis pneumonia, were basically absorbed 1 month after surgery. Six patients completed the 12 month follow-up. Although initial morphological changes varied, different degrees of absorption improvement were observed in later stages of treatment. Lung HRCT analysis on the sixth month indicated that the degree of involvement of the ventral region was greater than that of the dorsal area. No significant difference was observed in patients in terms of ECMO support time, pre-ECMO Murray score, and APACHE II score, among others. Lung HRCT of severe ARDS survivors after ECMO treatment showed various degrees of morphological changes in the lung parenchyma. The severity of these changes may be associated with the disease duration.

Analysis of thrombotic deposits in extracorporeal membrane oxygenators by multidetector computed tomography.

Oxygenator thrombosis is a serious complication in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and may necessitate a system exchange. Coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters, flow dynamics, and gas transfer performance are currently used to evaluate the degree of oxygenator thrombosis, but there is no technical approach for direct visualization and quantification of thrombotic deposits within the membrane oxygenator (MO). We used multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) with three-dimensional postprocessing to assess the incidence of oxygenator thrombosis, to quantify thrombus extent, and to localize clot distribution. Twenty heparin-coated MOs after successful weaning were analyzed. Mean ECMO support time was 7 ± 4 days, mean activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) during ECMO was 59 ± 20 seconds. Thrombotic deposits were detected in all MOs. The mean clot volume was 51.7 ± 22.3 cm. All thrombotic deposits were located in the venous, i.e., inlet part of the device, without apparent evidence of embolization in patients. There was no correlation between clot volume and ECMO support time or aPTT. Clot formation within the MO is a common finding in ECMO despite adequate systemic anticoagulation. The clinical significance of thrombus formation and its influence on gas exchange capacity and hemostatic complications have to be addressed in further studies.

Outcomes of Infants Weighing Three Kilograms or Less Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation After Cardiac Surgery

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is the most common form of cardiac support for postcardiotomy cardiac failure in children. While its benefits have been thoroughly explored in infants weighing more than 3 kg, similar analyses are lacking in lower weight neonates. This single-center study investigated outcomes and risks for poor survival among infants weighing 3 kg or less. A retrospective review of infants 3 kg or less who required postcardiotomy ECMO support was performed (January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2010). Primary outcome was 30-day survival after decannulation. Factors analyzed for association with poor outcome included demographics, cardiac anatomy, bypass and circulatory arrest times, total ECMO support time, postoperative lactate, inotrope use, and need for renal replacement therapy. During the study period, 64 patients weighing 3 kg or less required postcardiotomy ECMO. Median gestational age and age at ECMO initiation were 38 weeks (interquartile range, 36 to 39) and 7 days (interquartile range, 4 to 9), respectively, with median ECMO support time of 164 hours (interquartile range, 95 to 231). Overall 30-day survival after decannulation was 33%. Factors associated with poor outcome were longer duration of support (231 hours or more, 12% survival, versus less than 231 hours, 40% survival; p = 0.05) and renal replacement therapy (n = 36, survival 17% versus 54%; p = 0.002). Multivariable regression analysis identified renal replacement therapy as the only independent factor associated with poor survival (odds ratio 4.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.3 to 14.9, p = 0.02). For infants weighing 3 kg or less, 30-day survival after decannulation after cardiac ECMO is poor. Factors associated with poor prognosis were need for renal replacement therapy and longer duration of ECMO support. These findings may provide a useful guide for medical decision making among this unique, high-risk patient group.