Project description:BackgroundVenoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) increases left ventricular (LV) afterload, potentially provoking LV distention and impairing recovery. LV mechanical unloading (MU) with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) or percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) can prevent LV distension, potentially at the risk of more complications, and net clinical benefit remains uncertain.ObjectivesThis study aims to determine the association between MU and outcomes for patients undergoing VA-ECMO.MethodsThe authors queried the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry for adults receiving peripheral VA-ECMO from 2010 to 2019 and stratified them by MU with IABP or pVAD. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality; secondary outcomes included on-support mortality and complications during VA-ECMO.ResultsAmong 12,734 VA-ECMO patients, 3,399 (26.7%) received MU: 2,782 (82.9%) IABP and 580 (17.1%) pVAD. MU patients were older (age 56.3 vs 52.7 years) and, before extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, more often required >2 vasopressors (41.7% vs 27.2%) and had respiratory (21.1% vs 15.9%), renal (24.6% vs 15.8%), and liver failure (4.4% vs 3.1%) (all P < 0.001). MU patients had lower in-hospital mortality (56.6% vs 59.3%, P = 0.006), which persisted in multivariable modeling (adjusted OR [aOR]: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.77-0.92; P < 0.001). MU was associated with more cannula site bleeding (aOR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.11-1.40; P < 0.001) and hemolysis (aOR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.03-1.57; P = 0.02). Compared to pVAD, MU patients with IABP had similar mortality (aOR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.64-1.01; P = 0.06) and less medical bleeding (aOR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.31-0.64; P < 0.001), cannula site bleeding (aOR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.54-0.96; P = 0.03), and renal injury (aOR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.62-0.98; P = 0.03).ConclusionsAmong adults receiving VA-ECMO, MU was associated with lower in-hospital mortality despite increased complications including hemolysis and cannulation site bleeding. Compared to pVAD, MU with IABP was associated with similar mortality and lower complication rates.
Project description:Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices are effective tools in managing refractory cardiogenic shock (CS). Data comparing veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and IMPELLA® are however scarce. We aimed to assess outcomes of patients implanted with these two devices and eligible to both systems. From 2004 to 2020, we retrospectively analyzed 128 patients who underwent VA-ECMO or IMPELLA® in our institution for refractory left ventricle (LV) dominant CS. All patients were eligible to both systems: 97 patients were first implanted with VA-ECMO and 31 with IMPELLA®. The primary endpoint was 30-day all-cause death. VA-ECMO patients were younger (52 vs. 59.4, p = 0.006) and had a higher lactate level at baseline than those in the IMPELLA® group (6.84 vs. 3.03 mmol/L, p < 0.001). Duration of MCS was similar between groups (9.4 days vs. 6 days in the VA-ECMO and IMPELLA® groups respectively, p = 0.077). In unadjusted analysis, no significant difference was observed between groups in 30-day mortality: 43.3% vs. 58.1% in the VA-ECMO and IMPELLA® groups, respectively (p = 0.152). After adjustment, VA-ECMO was associated with a significant reduction in 30-day mortality (HR = 0.25, p = 0.004). A higher rate of MCS escalation was observed in the IMPELLA® group: 32.3% vs. 10.3% (p = 0.003). In patients eligible to either VA-ECMO or IMPELLA® for LV dominant refractory CS, VA-ECMO was associated with improved survival rate and a lower need for escalation.
Project description:End-stage heart failure is more often treated with Implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD), even if the prolonged use may increase the risk of complications. In this case, a 51-year-old male patient presented to our emergency department showing acute heart failure signs and symptoms and a dramatic reduction of LVAD flow. Laboratory tests ruled out significant haemolysis, usually associated with pump thrombosis. The echocardiogram and the computed tomography were not able to clarify the correct diagnosis. We immediately placed a veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, followed by a selective retrograde angiography of the pump. The images showed stenosis of the LVAD-outflow graft, suggesting a twist. Through a hand-made J-tip guidewire, we performed multiple dilatations of the occlusion using peripheral balloons. Finally, we implanted an aortic coarctation covered-stent, re-establishing an adequate cardiac output to the patient. Our case indicates that catheter-based approach in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation assistance provides an important therapeutic alternative to treat outflow graft stenosis, especially in the case of acutely unstable patient.
Project description:BackgroundVeno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has been used increasingly to support patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). There has been growing recognition of the favorable and unfavorable hemodynamic effects of this therapy and recent interest in the use of other percutaneous circulatory support devices to offset some of the potentially harmful hemodynamic effects. Herein, we provide visual evidence of the effects of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) counterpulsation for a patient with peripheral VA-ECMO cannulation.Case presentationA 68 year old man who had undergone orthotopic heart transplantation presented with 2 days of fatigue, orthopnea, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. On examination, he was tachycardic, hypotensive and hypoxic with cool extremities, consistent with CS. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) showed new severe biventricular dysfunction with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 15%, right heart catheterization demonstrated elevated filling pressures and low output. An IABP was inserted via the left femoral artery with minimal improvement in hemodynamics. He was escalated to VA-ECMO. Repeat TTE demonstrated aortic valve (AV) opening with each cardiac cycle and mild MR. With placement of the IABP on standby Additional file 1: Video 1 (video 0:03), the AV no longer opened. Re-initiation of balloon counterpulsation resulted in resumed AV opening with each beat Additional file 1: Video 1 (video 0:17). He was treated for presumed acute allograft rejection with methylprednisolone, thymoglobulin, intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis with improvement in allograft function. However, he developed an Enterobacter aerogenes pneumonia and rapidly fatal septic shock.ConclusionsThis case visually demonstrates effective LV decompression by IABP counterpulsation in VA-ECMO support. While the overall effects of LV decompression in patients on VA-ECMO with IABP are still unclear, this report demonstrates one potential mechanism of benefit in the prevention of stagnation of blood flow that may lead to intra-cardiac or aortic root thrombus formation.
Project description:AimsThe clinical benefits of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) for profound cardiogenic shock are well known. However, peripheral VA-ECMO increases the left ventricular afterload, thus compromising myocardial recovery. Recent studies have revealed the benefit of left ventricular unloading using various methods applied at different times. The EARLY-UNLOAD trial compares the clinical outcomes of early left ventricular unloading and conventional approach after VA-ECMO.Methods and resultsThe EARLY-UNLOAD trial is a single-centre, open-label, randomized trial that recruited 116 patients with cardiogenic shock undergoing VA-ECMO. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to two groups: routine left ventricular unloading via intracardiac echocardiography-guided transseptal left atrial cannulation within 12 h of VA-ECMO initiation or conventional approach that indicates rescue left ventricular unloading if clinical signs of an increased left ventricular afterload are present. The primary endpoint is the cumulative incidence of all-cause death within 30 days, and patients will be followed-up for 12 months. A key secondary endpoint is a composite measure of all-cause death and rescue transseptal left atrial cannulation in the conventional group (suggestive of VA-ECMO treatment failure) within 30 days. The enrolment of patients was finished in September 2022.ConclusionsThe EARLY-UNLOAD trial is the first randomized controlled trial to compare early left ventricular unloading and conventional approach after VA-ECMO using the same unloading modality. The results could impact clinical practice to overcome the haemodynamic issues associated with VA-ECMO.
Project description:Mechanical circulatory support devices are used to support the heart in cardiogenic shock. We present a case of demonstrating the feasible use of left ventricular assistive device with reverse configuration to support severe right ventricular failure in a patient with recent tricuspid annuloplasty ring.