Pumpless Extracorporeal Lung Research Articles

Bioengineering Progress in Lung Assist Devices.

Artificial lung technology is advancing at a startling rate raising hopes that it would better serve the needs of those requiring respiratory support. Whether to assist the healing of an injured lung, support patients to lung transplantation, or to entirely replace native lung function, safe and effective artificial lungs are sought. After 200 years of bioengineering progress, artificial lungs are closer than ever before to meet this demand which has risen exponentially due to the COVID-19 crisis. In this review, the critical advances in the historical development of artificial lungs are detailed. The current state of affairs regarding extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, intravascular lung assists, pump-less extracorporeal lung assists, total artificial lungs, and microfluidic oxygenators are outlined.

Validation of RESP and PRESERVE score for ARDS patients with pumpless extracorporeal lung assist (pECLA)

BackgroundRESP score and PRESERVE score have been validated for veno-venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in severe ARDS to assume individual mortality risk. ARDS patients with low-flow Extracorporeal Carbon Dioxide Removal, especially pumpless Extracorporeal Lung Assist, have also a high mortality rate, but there are no validated specific or general outcome scores. This retrospective study tested whether these established specific risk scores can be validated for pumpless Extracorporeal Lung Assist in ARDS patients in comparison to a general organ dysfunction score, the SOFA score.MethodsIn a retrospective single center cohort study we calculated and evaluated RESP, PRESERVE, and SOFA score for 73 ARDS patients with pumpless Extracorporeal Lung Assist treated between 2002 and 2016 using the XENIOS iLA Membrane Ventilator. Six patients had a mild, 40 a moderate and 27 a severe ARDS according to the Berlin criteria. Demographic data and hospital mortality as well as ventilator settings, hemodynamic parameters, and blood gas measurement before and during extracorporeal therapy were recorded.ResultsPumpless Extracorporeal Lung Assist of mechanical ventilated ARDS patients resulted in an optimized lung protective ventilation, significant reduction of PaCO2, and compensation of acidosis. Scoring showed a mean score of alive versus deceased patients of 3 ± 1 versus − 1 ± 1 for RESP (p < 0.01), 3 ± 0 versus 6 ± 0 for PRESERVE (p < 0.05) and 8 ± 1 versus 10 ± 1 for SOFA (p < 0.05). Using receiver operating characteristic curves, area under the curve (AUC) was 0.78 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67–0.89, p < 0.01) for RESP score, 0.80 (95% CI 0.70–0.90, p < 0.0001) for PRESERVE score and 0.66 (95% CI 0.53–0.79, p < 0.05) for SOFA score.ConclusionsRESP and PRESERVE scores were superior to SOFA, as non-specific critical care score. Although scores were developed for veno-venous ECMO, we could validate RESP and PRESERVE score for pumpless Extracorporeal Lung Assist. In conclusion, RESP and PRESERVE score are suitable to estimate mortality risk of ARDS patients with an arterio-venous pumpless Extracorporeal Carbon Dioxide Removal.

Effects of pumpless extracorporeal lung assist on hemodynamics, gas exchange and inflammatory cascade response during experimental lung injury.

Pumpless extracorporeal lung assist (pECLA) has been reported to efficiently remove the systemic CO2 production and provide mild to moderate oxygenation, thereby allowing for ventilator settings and modes prioritizing oxygenation and lung protection. However, an adequate bypass flow, the capacity to provide respiratory support and the effect on the inflammatory cascade response and tissue perfusion require further study to be determined. After induction of acute lung injury (ALI) by oleic acid injection, pECLA was implemented in 12 anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated dogs for 48 h. Improved oxygenation [partial oxygen pressure (PaO2) and oxygen saturation (SaO2) was measured by arterial blood gas analysis, and increased by 29 and 18%, respectively] and CO2 elimination (partial CO2 pressure decreased by 43.35%) were obtained after pECLA implementation. A maximum arterio-venous shunt flow of up to 25% of the foundational CO resulted in stable hemodynamics. The pECLA procedure did not elicit any further increase in the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and endothelin-1 compared with that in the group subjected to oleic acid injection only. In addition, the pECLA procedure had no effect on lactate levels and urine production. In conclusion, pECLA is an efficient and promising strategy for providing a mild to moderate oxygenation and adequate decarboxylation, while avoiding excessive inflammatory cascade response and tissue hypoperfusion in an experimental ALI model.

Efficacy and safety of argatroban in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and extracorporeal lung support

BackgroundExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or pumpless extracorporeal lung assist (pECLA) requires effective anticoagulation. Knowledge on the use of argatroban in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) undergoing ECMO or pECLA is limited. Therefore, this study assessed the feasibility, efficacy and safety of argatroban in critically ill ARDS patients undergoing extracorporeal lung support.MethodsThis retrospective analysis included ARDS patients on extracorporeal lung support who received argatroban between 2007 and 2014 in a single ARDS referral center. As controls, patients who received heparin were matched for age, sex, body mass index and severity of illness scores. Major and minor bleeding complications, thromboembolic events, administered number of erythrocyte concentrates, thrombocytes and fresh-frozen plasmas were assessed. The number of extracorporeal circuit systems and extracorporeal lung support cannulas needed due to clotting was recorded. Also assessed was the efficacy to reach the targeted activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in the first consecutive 14 days of therapy, and the controllability of aPTT values is within a therapeutic range of 50–75 s. Fisher’s exact test, Mann–Whitney U tests, Friedman tests and multivariate nonparametric analyses for longitudinal data (MANOVA; Brunner’s analysis) were applied where appropriate.ResultsOf the 535 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 39 receiving argatroban and 39 matched patients receiving heparin (controls) were included. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups, including severity of illness and organ failure scores. There were no significant differences in major and minor bleeding complications. Rates of thromboembolic events were generally low and were similar between the two groups, as were the rates of transfusions required and device-associated complications. The controllability of both argatroban and heparin improved over time, with a significantly increasing probability to reach the targeted aPTT corridor over the first days (p < 0.001). Over time, there were significantly fewer aPTT values below the targeted aPTT goal in the argatroban group than in the heparin group (p < 0.05). Both argatroban and heparin reached therapeutic aPTT values for adequate application of extracorporeal lung support.ConclusionsArgatroban appears to be a feasible, effective and safe anticoagulant for critically ill ARDS patients undergoing extracorporeal lung support.

Effect of body mass index on the outcome of surgical patients receiving extracorporeal devices (VV ECMO, pECLA) for respiratory failure.

To determine whether obese surgical patients are at a significant disadvantage in terms of outcomes after extracorporeal device (ECD) support, such as veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) or pumpless extracorporeal lung assist (pECLA), for respiratory failure, the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and hospital outcomes was analyzed. This retrospective study included data on patients who were supported with an ECD between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2014. The analysis included 89 patients (74 male). The median BMI was 30 kg/m2 (19-88.5). The median duration of the ECD support was 9.0 days, with a maximum of 37.1 days. The median LOS (length of stay) in the intensive care unit (ICU) was 21 days (range 0.06-197.6). The median hospital LOS was 34.9 days (range 0.1-213.8). VV ECMO was performed 72 times, and pECLA was performed 18 times. The number of patients successfully weaned off the ECD was 54 (60.6%). Survival at the discharge from the hospital was 48.3%. 54 (60.6%) patients were successfully weaned off the ECD; 43 (48.3%) patients survived and were discharged from the hospital. The analysis of correlations between BMI and outcomes of surgical patients treated with ECD showed no association between BMI and mortality. Complications (especially oxygenator clotting) were not more frequent in obese and extremely obese patients. We hypothesized that patients with higher or morbid BMIs would have increased mortality after ECD support. A BMI of 30.66 kg/m2 corresponded to the desired sensitivity and specificity to predict mortality. This finding applied only to the study group. Treatment with ECD in obese patients presents unique challenges, including percutaneous cannulation and increased staff requirements. However, based on these data, obesity should not be an exclusion criterion for ECD therapy.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: evolving epidemiology and mortality

The evolution of the epidemiology and mortality of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) remains unclear. The present study investigates the evolving epidemiology and mortality of various ECMO techniques in Germany over time, used for both severe respiratory and cardiac failure. Data on all patients receiving venovenous (vv-ECMO) and venoarterial (va-ECMO) ECMO as well as pumpless extracorporeal lung assist/interventional lung assist (PECLA/ILA) outside the operating room in Germany from 1 January 2007 through 31 December 2014 were obtained from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany and analyzed. The incidence of vv-ECMO and va-ECMO in the population increased threefold from 1.0:100,000 inhabitants/year in 2007 to a maximum of 3.0:100,000 in 2012, and from 0.1:100,000 in 2007 to 0.7:100,000 in 2012 and to a maximum of 3.5:100,000 in 2014, respectively. The incidence of arteriovenous PECLA/ILA also increased from 0.4:100,000 to a maximum of 0.6:100,000 in 2011, but decreased thereafter to 0.3:100,000 in 2014. The relative proportion of older patients receiving ECMO is steadily increasing. In-hospital mortality decreased over time and reached 58 and 66% for vv-ECMO and va-ECMO in 2014, respectively. In addition, mortality steadily increased with age and was especially high in the first 48h of ECMO use. In a high-income country like Germany, the use of ECMO has been rapidly increasing since 2007 for both respiratory and cardiac support, with a recent plateau in vv-ECMO use. In-hospital mortality decreased with increasing ECMO utilization, but remains high, especially in older patients and in the first 48h of use.

Use of Extracorporeal CO2 Removal to Avoid Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Hypercapnic Coma and Failure of Noninvasive Ventilation

Invasive mechanical ventilation is known to be detrimental to patients with respiratory failure due to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). If hypercapnic respiratory failure and acidosis cannot be controlled by noninvasive mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2 R) serves as an alternative option. Currently applied systems like extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or pumpless extracorporeal lung assist (PECLA) are associated with potentially significant bleeding complications and require a very high nursing standard. We report a case of AECOPD with hypercapnic coma and failure of noninvasive ventilation for which we used a novel low-flow ECCO2 R device, called the Hemolung Respiratory Assist System. This device requires only a single 15.5 French double-lumen venous catheter and operates at blood flows of 350 mL/min to 550 mL/min. Use of this device enabled the patient to avoid general anesthesia and invasive mechanical ventilation without adverse events. In addition, weaning from noninvasive mechanical ventilation, early mobilization, communication and nutrition were facilitated. CO2 removal with low extracorporeal blood flow avoided intubation in the treatment of hypercapnic coma with failure of non-invasive ventilation.

Extracorporeal Lung Support as a Bridge to Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tumor Embolism

Bridging to diagnosis is an emerging technique used in end-stage cardiorespiratory failure that prolongs a patient's life using various modalities of extracorporeal lung support (ECLS) to achieve antemortem diagnosis. Pulmonary tumor embolism occurs when cell clusters travel from primary malignancies through venous circulation to the lungs, causing respiratory failure through inflammatory and venoocclusive pathways. Due to its nonspecific symptomatology, pulmonary tumor embolism remains an elusive diagnosis antemortem. Herein, we bridge a patient who presented in acute respiratory failure to the diagnosis of pulmonary tumor embolism from a gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma using ECLS modalities including venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and centrally cannulated Novalung pumpless extracorporeal lung assist. We demonstrate the utility of this approach in diagnostically uncertain cases in unstable patients who are potentially acceptable ECLS and transplant candidates.

Infections and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Incidence, Therapy, and Outcome.

The objective is to assess the influence of infections and the microbiological spectrum on the general outcome of patients undergoing therapy with extracorporeal devices (ECDs), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, extracorporeal life support, and pumpless extracorporeal lung assist. We performed a single-center, retrospective analysis of 99 patients receiving ECD. Infections requiring ECD, nosocomial infections occurring during treatment, the use of guideline-based antiinfective therapies, and patient outcomes were described and statistically analyzed. We analyzed 88 patients-survivors and nonsurvivors-and subdivided the infections into primary and nosocomial infections. The median patient age was 54.0 years, 85.2% were men, and 45 (51.1%) survived. Surviving ECD patients had a higher risk of nosocomial infection because of their prolonged hospital stay. Our results indicated that early, focused, antiinfective therapy was important to avoid severe infection complications. Infections causing sepsis and multiorgan dysfunction were negatively associated with outcome and successful weaning of ECD. The percentages and types of pathogens in the ECD cohort did not differ from the general colonization of intensive care units. Because a significant correlation between pathogens, infections, and outcome was not detected, we recommend focusing on clinical parameters to decide whether patients will benefit from ECD support.

Extracorporeal decarboxylation in patients with severe traumatic brain injury and ARDS enables effective control of intracranial pressure.

IntroductionAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with concomitant impairment of oxygenation and decarboxylation represents a complex problem in patients with increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Permissive hypercapnia is not an option to obtain and maintain lung-protective ventilation in the presence of elevated ICP. Pumpless extracorporeal lung assist (pECLA) devices (iLA Membrane Ventilator; Novalung, Heilbronn, Germany) can improve decarboxylation without aggravation associated with invasive ventilation. In this pilot series, we analyzed the safety and efficacy of pECLA in patients with ARDS and elevated ICP after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).MethodsThe medical records of ten patients (eight male, two female) with severe ARDS and severe TBI concurrently managed with external ventricular drainage in the neurointensive care unit (NICU) were retrospectively analyzed. The effect of pECLA on enabling lung-protective ventilation was evaluated using the difference between plateau pressure and positive end-expiratory pressure, defined as driving pressure (ΔP), during the 3 days preceding the implant of pECLA devices until 3 days afterward. The ICP threshold was set at 20 mmHg. To evaluate effects on ICP, the volume of daily cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage needed to maintain the set ICP threshold was compared pre- and postimplant.ResultsThe ΔP values after pECLA implantation decreased from a mean 17.1 ± 0.7 cm/H2O to 11.9±0.5 cm/H2O (p = 0.011). In spite of this improved lung-protective ventilation, carbon dioxide pressure decreased from 46.6 ± 3.9 mmHg to 39.7 ± 3.5 mmHg (p = 0.005). The volume of daily CSF drainage needed to maintain ICP at 20 mmHg decreased significantly from 141.5 ± 103.5 ml to 62.2 ± 68.1 ml (p = 0.037).ConclusionsFor selected patients with concomitant severe TBI and ARDS, the application of pECLA is safe and effective. pECLA devices improve decarboxylation, thus enabling lung-protective ventilation. At the same time, potentially detrimental hypercapnia that may increase ICP is avoided. Larger prospective trials are warranted to further elucidate application of pECLA devices in NICU patients.

Modified Pulmonary Artery to Left Atrium Bypass as Bridge to Lung Transplantation in Pulmonary Artery Hypertension

Introduction: A 32-year old lady with decompensated idiopathic pulmonary artery hypertension (iPAH) was bridged to lung transplant (LTx) with a modified left pulmonary artery (LPA) to left atrium (LA) bypass using NovaLung (NovaLung GmbH, Talheim, Germany), a pumpless extracorporeal lung assist (pECLA).

Pumpless extracorporeal interventional lung assist for bronchiolitis obliterans after allogenic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for acute lymphocytic leukemia

Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO), which is associated with graft-versus-host disease after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, is a major obstacle to survival after bone marrow transplantation due to its gradual progress, eventually leading to respiratory failure. Pumpless extracorporeal interventional lung assist (iLA) is effective in treatment of reversible hypercapnic respiratory failure. In this paper, we present a 23year-old female patient who underwent allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) for acute lymphocytic leukemia. After 6 months, she complained of shortness of breath and was diagnosed with BO. Five months later, she developed an upper respiratory tract infection that worsened her BO and caused life-threatening hypercapnia. Since mechanical ventilation failed to eliminate CO2 effectively, iLA was applied as rescue therapy. Her hypercapnia and respiratory acidosis showed significant improvement within a few hours, and she was successfully weaned off iLA after 12 days. This is the first case report of iLA application for temporarily aggravated hypercapnia of PBSCT-associated BO followed by successful weaning. This rescue therapy should be considered in ventilator-refractory reversible hypercapnia in BO patients.

Disorders of haemostasis in patients with acute necrotising pancreatitis

Our objective was to investigate the capacity of a pumpless extracorporeal lung membrane (iLA) (Novalung; Novalung GmbH, Hechingen, Germany) to provide adequate respiratory support and the impact on morbidity/mortality during complex airway reconstruction.Only patients unable to be ventilated via conventional intubation were eligible for the study. A larynx mask or orotracheal tubes were placed above the airway defect and the iLA was attached via femoral vessels (arteriovenous), providing extracorporeal gas exchange, apneic hyperoxygenation, and total tubeless airway reconstruction. Haptoglobulin, plasmin–antiplasmin complex, P-selectin activation, and interleukin 6 were measured before, during, and after iLA use and 72 hours postoperatively.Fifteen consecutive patients (age, 42 ± 17 years) underwent elective (n = 7) or emergency (n = 8) reconstruction of the airway owing to a variety of disorders or defects. The iLA was left in place for 185 ± 61 minutes, diverted 1.70 ± 0.48 L/min of the cardiac output, and provided an arteriovenous carbon dioxide removal and oxygen transfer of 173 ± 94 and 144 ± 83 mL/min, respectively. The arterial oxygen tension/inspired oxygen fraction (314 ± 31 mm Hg), and arterial carbon dioxide tension (40 ± 6 mm Hg) remained stable throughout the entire operations. The following procedures were performed: redo slide tracheoplasties (n = 3), redo tracheoesophageal fistula repair (n = 1), sleeve lobectomies (n = 2), main carina reconstructions (n = 7), and anastomotic stenting and myocutaneous coverages (n = 2). Three patients required prolonged (9 ± 2 days) postoperative iLA support. Two (13%) patients died during the hospital stay. The use of iLA was associated with significant (P < .05) but clinically nonrelevant and yet nonpathologic increases of haptoglobulin (hemolysis), plasmin–antiplasmin complex (coagulation activation), and P-selectin activation (platelet activation). Data normalized within 48 hours postoperatively.Data suggest that iLA provides complete intraoperative respiratory support in patients who cannot receive conventional intubation/ventilation without relevant effects on cellular trauma, coagulatory response, and inflammatory response.

Use of pumpless extracorporeal lung assist as rescue therapy in adolescent with cystic fibrosis

There is abundant evidence that artificial ventilation can aggravate pre-existing lung disease, which may contribute to morbidity and mortality. This is especially true for patients with air leakages. This case report describes the use of a pumpless extracorporeal lung assist as a rescue therapy to provide time to heal during the mechanical ventilation of a 16-year-old with cystic fibrosis who could not be managed via conventional means.

Safety of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in patients on extracorporeal lung support

To evaluate the safety of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) in critically ill patients on an extracorporeal lung assist device requiring therapeutic anticoagulation. This was a retrospective, observational study on all patients undergoing tracheostomy while on pumpless extracorporeal lung assist or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in intensive care units of two university hospitals in Germany between 2007 and 2013. During the study period PDT was performed on 118 patients. The median platelet count, international normalized ratio, and activated partial thromboplastin time before tracheostomy were 126 × 10(9)/L (range 16-617 × 10(9)/L), 1.1 (0.9-2.0) and 49 s (28-117 s), respectively. Seventeen patients (14.4%) received a maximum of three bags of pooled platelets, and eight patients (6.8%) received a maximum of four units of fresh frozen plasma before the procedure. In all patients the administration of intravenous heparin was briefly paused periprocedurally. No periprocedural clotting complication within the extracorporeal circuit was observed. Two patients (1.7%) suffered from procedure-related major bleeding, with one patient requiring conversion to a surgical tracheostomy. Two pneumothoraces (1.7%) were related to the PDT. One patient (0.8%) had analgosedation-related hypotension with brief and successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Minor bleeding from the tracheostomy site occurred in 37 cases (31.4%). No fatality was attributable to tracheostomy. The complication rates of PDT in the patients on extracorporeal lung support were low and comparable to those of other critically ill patients. Based on these results, we conclude that PDT performed by experienced operators with careful optimization of the coagulation state is a relatively safe procedure and not contraindicated for this patient group.

Combined use of pumpless extracorporeal lung assist system and continuous renal replacement therapy with citrate anticoagulation in polytrauma patients

The usefulness of a pumpless extracorporeal lung assist system (pECLA) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in critically ill patients has been demonstrated in previous studies [1,2]. The aim of this report was to examine combined use of pECLA and CRRT to improve carbon dioxide and inflammatory mediator removal, which allows for lung protective ventilation strategies.

Extracorporeal heart and lung replacement procedures

ZusammenfassungDie Verwendung eines extrakorporalen Unterstützungsystems stellt bei kardialem und/oder pulmonalem Versagen eine etablierte Therapieoption dar. Auch wenn die wissenschaftliche Evidenz quantitativ noch nicht ausreichend gesichert ist, gibt es zunehmend Hinweise aus einzelnen Studien [z. B. Conventional Ventilation or ECMO for Severe Adult Respiratory Failure (CESAR) Trial], dass die „extracorporeal membrane oxygenation“ (ECMO) als pumpenbetriebenes venovenöses Verfahren beim schweren Lungenversagen eine lebensrettende Maßnahme ist. Initial als „rescue option“ beim kardialen Versagen nach Kardiotomie etabliert, erfährt der „extracorporeal life support“ (ECLS) zunehmende Verbreitung als pumpenbetriebenes venoarterielles Herz-Kreislauf-Unterstützungsystem im kardiogenen Schock bei Myokardinfarkt, als „Bridging“-Maßnahme zur Transplantation und im Rahmen einer erweiterten Reanimation. Der „pumpless extracorporeal lung assist“ (pECLA) als pumpenloses arteriovenöses Verfahren ist technisch einfacher zu handhaben, garantiert jedoch nur eine suffiziente Decarboxylierung ohne ausreichende Oxygenierung. Daher wird dieses Verfahren insbesondere im Rahmen eines primär hyperkapnischen Lungenversagens mit respiratorischer Acidose angewendet, um eine lungenprotektive Beatmung zu ermöglichen. Enorme technische Enwticklungen und v. a. die extreme Miniaturisierung der extrakorporalen Unterstützungsysteme dürfen jedoch nicht darüber hinwegtäuschen, dass es sich um eine invasive Therapie mit einer hohen Inzidenz von schwerwiegenden Komplikationen handelt. Vor diesem Hintergrund müssen die weite Verbreitung dieser Technologie kritisch hinterfragt und vielmehr die Konzentrierung auf Zentren mit hoher Expertise gefordert werden.

Lower tidal volume strategy (≈3 ml/kg) combined with extracorporeal CO2 removal versus ‘conventional’ protective ventilation (6 ml/kg) in severe ARDS

BackgroundAcute respiratory distress syndrome is characterized by damage to the lung caused by various insults, including ventilation itself, and tidal hyperinflation can lead to ventilator induced lung injury (VILI). We investigated the effects of a low tidal volume (V T) strategy (V T ≈ 3 ml/kg/predicted body weight [PBW]) using pumpless extracorporeal lung assist in established ARDS.MethodsSeventy-nine patients were enrolled after a ‘stabilization period’ (24 h with optimized therapy and high PEEP). They were randomly assigned to receive a low V T ventilation (≈3 ml/kg) combined with extracorporeal CO2 elimination, or to a ARDSNet strategy (≈6 ml/kg) without the extracorporeal device. The primary outcome was the 28-days and 60-days ventilator-free days (VFD). Secondary outcome parameters were respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, analgesic/sedation use, complications and hospital mortality.ResultsVentilation with very low V T’s was easy to implement with extracorporeal CO2-removal. VFD’s within 60 days were not different between the study group (33.2 ± 20) and the control group (29.2 ± 21, p = 0.469), but in more hypoxemic patients (PaO2/FIO2 ≤150) a post hoc analysis demonstrated significant improved VFD-60 in study patients (40.9 ± 12.8) compared to control (28.2 ± 16.4, p = 0.033). The mortality rate was low (16.5 %) and did not differ between groups.ConclusionsThe use of very low V T combined with extracorporeal CO2 removal has the potential to further reduce VILI compared with a ‘normal’ lung protective management. Whether this strategy will improve survival in ARDS patients remains to be determined (Clinical trials NCT 00538928).Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00134-012-2787-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A Case of Pumpless Interventional Lung Assist Application in a Tuberculosis Destroyed Lung Patient with Severe Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure

Pumpless extracorporeal interventional lung assist (iLA) is a rescue therapy allowing effective carbon dioxide re- movals and lung protective ventilator settings. Herein, we report the use of a pumpless extracorporeal iLA in a tu- berculosis destroyed lung (TDL) patient with severe hypercapnic respiratory failures. A 35-year-old male patient with TDL was intubated due to CO2 retention and altered mentality. After 11 days, Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) had developed. Despite the maximal mechanical ventilator support, his severe respiratory acidosis was not corrected. We applied the iLA for the management of refractory hypercapnia with respiratory acidosis. This case suggests that the iLA is an effective rescue therapy for TDL patients with ventilator refractory hypercapnia.

Extracorporeal lung support in trauma patients with severe chest injury and acute lung failure: a 10-year institutional experience

IntroductionSevere trauma with concomitant chest injury is frequently associated with acute lung failure (ALF). This report summarizes our experience with extracorporeal lung support (ELS) in thoracic trauma patients treated at the University Medical Center Regensburg.MethodsA retrospective, observational analysis of prospectively collected data (Regensburg ECMO Registry database) was performed for all consecutive trauma patients with acute pulmonary failure requiring ELS during a 10-year interval.ResultsBetween April 2002 and April 2012, 52 patients (49 male, three female) with severe thoracic trauma and ALF refractory to conventional therapy required ELS. The mean age was 32 ± 14 years (range, 16 to 72 years). Major traffic accident (73%) was the most common trauma, followed by blast injury (17%), deep fall (8%) and blunt trauma (2%). The mean Injury Severity Score was 58.9 ± 10.5, the mean lung injury score was 3.3 ± 0.6 and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score was 10.5 ± 3. Twenty-six patients required pumpless extracorporeal lung assist (PECLA) and 26 patients required veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (vv-ECMO) for primary post-traumatic respiratory failure. The mean time to ELS support was 5.2 ± 7.7 days (range, <24 hours to 38 days) and the mean ELS duration was 6.9 ± 3.6 days (range, <24 hours to 19 days). In 24 cases (48%) ELS implantation was performed in an external facility, and cannulation was done percutaneously by Seldinger's technique in 98% of patients. Cannula-related complications occurred in 15% of patients (PECLA, 19% (n = 5); vv-ECMO, 12% (n = 3)). Surgery was performed in 44 patients, with 16 patients under ELS prevention. Eight patients (15%) died during ELS support and three patients (6%) died after ELS weaning. The overall survival rate was 79% compared with the proposed Injury Severity Score-related mortality (59%).ConclusionPumpless and pump-driven ELS systems are an excellent treatment option in severe thoracic trauma patients with ALF and facilitate survival in an experienced trauma center with an interdisciplinary treatment approach. We encourage the use of vv-ECMO due to reduced complication rates, better oxygenation and best short-term outcome.