Purpose
To provide an overview and evaluate the performance of mortality prediction models for patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for refractory cardiocirculatory ...or respiratory failure.
Methods
A systematic literature search was undertaken to identify studies developing and/or validating multivariable prediction models for all-cause mortality in adults requiring or receiving veno-arterial (V-A) or veno-venous (V-V) ECMO. Estimates of model performance (observed versus expected (O:E) ratio and c-statistic) were summarized using random effects models and sources of heterogeneity were explored by means of meta-regression. Risk of bias was assessed using the Prediction model Risk Of BiAS Tool (PROBAST).
Results
Among 4905 articles screened, 96 studies described a total of 58 models and 225 external validations. Out of all 58 models which were specifically developed for ECMO patients, 14 (24%) were ever externally validated. Discriminatory ability of frequently validated models developed for ECMO patients (i.e., SAVE and RESP score) was moderate on average (pooled c-statistics between 0.66 and 0.70), and comparable to general intensive care population-based models (pooled c-statistics varying between 0.66 and 0.69 for the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score). Nearly all models tended to underestimate mortality with a pooled O:E > 1. There was a wide variability in reported performance measures of external validations, reflecting a large between-study heterogeneity. Only 1 of the 58 models met the generally accepted Prediction model Risk Of BiAS Tool criteria of good quality. Importantly, all predicted outcomes were conditional on the fact that ECMO support had already been initiated, thereby reducing their applicability for patient selection in clinical practice.
Conclusions
A large number of mortality prediction models have been developed for ECMO patients, yet only a minority has been externally validated. Furthermore, we observed only moderate predictive performance, large heterogeneity between-study populations and model performance, and poor methodological quality overall. Most importantly, current models are unsuitable to provide decision support for selecting individuals in whom initiation of ECMO would be most beneficial, as all models were developed in ECMO patients only and the decision to start ECMO had, therefore, already been made.
Severe ARDS can be complicated by right ventricular (RV) failure. The etiology of RV failure in ARDS is multifactorial. Vascular alterations, hypoxia, hypercapnia and effects of mechanical ...ventilation may play a role. Echocardiography has an important role in diagnosing RV failure in ARDS patients. Once extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is indicated in these patients, the right ECMO modus needs to be chosen. In this review, the etiology, diagnosis and management of RV failure in ARDS will be briefly outlined. The beneficial effect of veno-venous (VV) ECMO on RV function in these patients will be illustrated. Based on this, we will give recommendations regarding choice of ECMO modus and provide an algorithm for management of RV failure in VV ECMO supported patients.
Bleeding is a common complication following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. The goal of this study was to investigate the incidence, predictors and clinical outcome of early ...bleeding events in patients after LVAD implantation.
A total of 83 patients (age 50 ± 13 years, 76% men) had an LVAD implanted 77% HeartMate II, 19% HeartMate 3 (Abbott, Chicago, IL, USA) over a period of 11 years. Patients were included consecutively. An early bleeding event was defined as the need for thoracic surgical re-exploration or transfusion with >4 units of packed red blood cells before discharge.
Overall, 39 (47%) patients (age 50 ± 14 years, 77% men) experienced an early bleeding event median time 6 days (interquartile range 1-9 days). Furthermore, 10 (26%) of these patients had ≥2 bleeding events. Twelve of the 14 (92%) patients with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support before LVAD implantation experienced an early bleeding event versus 27 of the 69 (39%) patients without ECMO support (P < 0.001). No difference was found in early bleeding rates between HeartMate II and HeartMate 3. Predictors for early bleeding events were lower pre- and postimplant platelet counts and ECMO support preimplantation. After multivariable adjustment, early bleeding events were associated with ECMO support preimplantation (odds ratio 6.3, 95% confidence interval 1.2-32.4; P = 0.03) and thrombocytopenia (<150 × 109/l) postimplant (odds ratio 5.9, 95% confidence interval 1.9-18.7; P = 0.002). Patients who experienced an early bleeding event had a significantly worse 90-day survival rate compared to patients who did not (79% vs 96%, P = 0.03).
An early bleeding event needing surgical exploration is highly prevalent after LVAD implantation, especially in patients bridged with ECMO and with pre- and postimplant thrombocytopenia.
Beta-blockers (BB) may improve oxygenation in patients on veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO). This study analyzed safety and efficacy of BB in hypoxemic patients on V-V ECMO.
...Retrospective analysis of patients who were treated with BB during V-V ECMO in two centers. The primary safety outcome was a composite of occurrence of bradycardia or hypotension with need for intervention, resuscitation, unexplained rise in serum lactate, and discontinuation of beta-blockers for other reasons than inefficacy or resolution on hypoxemia during the first 5 days of therapy. The main efficacy outcome was increase in oxygen saturation (SaO2) within 12 h after start of BB.
33 patients received BB for 4 3–7 days while on V-V ECMO. Fifteen episodes of adverse events occurred in 13 patients (39%); BB had to be discontinued in only one patient for sustained hypotension. In two other patients, doses were reduced or temporarily withheld due to bradycardia. There was an increase in SaO2 from 92 90–96% to 96 94–97% at 12 h, with unchanged mean arterial pressure and norepinephrine doses.
In this study, use of BB in hypoxemic patients on V-V ECMO was safe and associated with a moderate increase in SaO2.
•33 patients treated with beta-blockers for hypoxemia during V-V ECMO were analyzed for safety and efficacy.•Beta-blocker treatment resulted in a decrease in heart rate and an increase in arterial oxygen saturation.•Few side effects were found and hemodynamic tolerance was generally good.
Background The postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) is a common complication following cardiac surgery. The pathophysiology remains unclear, although evidence exists that surgical trauma and the use of ...cardiopulmonary bypass provoke an immune response leading to PPS. We hypothesized that an intraoperative dose of dexamethasone decreases the risk of PPS, by reducing this inflammatory response. Methods We performed a subanalysis of the DECS study, which is a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of 4,494 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with use of cardiopulmonary bypass. The aim of the DECS study was to investigate whether a single intraoperative dose of 1 mg/kg dexamethasone reduced the incidence of a composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, renal failure, or respiratory failure, within 30 days of randomization. In this substudy, we retrospectively analyzed the occurrence of PPS in 822 patients who were included in the DECS trial and underwent valvular surgery. Postpericardiotomy syndrome was diagnosed if 2 of 5 listed symptoms were present: unexplained fever, pleuritic chest pain, pericardial or pleural rub, new or worsening pericardial or pleural effusion. All medical charts, x-rays, and echocardiograms were reviewed. Secondary end point was the occurrence of complicated PPS, defined as PPS with need for evacuation of pleural effusion, pericardiocentesis, and tamponade requiring intervention or hospital readmission for PPS. This is a blinded, single-center, post hoc analysis. Results Postpericardiotomy syndrome occurred in 119 patients (14.5%). The incidence of PPS after dexamethasone compared with placebo was 13.5% vs 15.5% (relative risk 0.88, 95% CI 0.63-1.22). For complicated PPS, the incidence was 3.8% versus 3.2% (relative risk 1.17, 95% CI 0.57-2.41, P = .66), respectively. Conclusion In patients undergoing valvular cardiac surgery, high-dose dexamethasone treatment had no protective effect on the occurrence of PPS or complicated PPS.
To determine the impact of a rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM)-guided transfusion protocol on the use of blood products, patient outcomes, coagulation factor concentrates, and costs.
A ...single-center retrospective cohort study.
A tertiary university hospital.
Adults undergoing proximal aortic surgery with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.
ROTEM-guided transfusion protocol compared with clinically-guided transfusion.
Two hundred seventeen patients were included; seventy-one elective and 24 emergency patients in the clinically-guided group, and 59 elective and 63 emergency patients in the ROTEM-guided transfusion protocol group. In the ROTEM-guided transfusion protocol group, a significant reduction in transfusion of red blood cells (5 3-8 v 2 0-4, p < 0.001), platelet concentrate (2 2-3 v 1 1-2, p < 0.001), and plasma (1,980 mL 1,320-3,300 v 800 mL 0-1,000, p < 0.001) was seen in elective surgery. Emergency patients received fewer red blood cells (7 5-10 v 5 2-10, p = 0.040), platelet concentrate (3 2-4 v 2 2-3, p = 0.023), and plasma (3,140 mL 1,980-3,960 v 1,000 mL 0-1,400, p < 0.001). Prothrombin complex concentrate and fibrinogen concentrate were increased significantly in elective and emergency patients. The surgical reexploration for bleeding rate was decreased in elective patients 33.8% v 5.1%.
The implementation of a ROTEM-guided transfusion protocol might have the potential to decrease blood product transfusion and may improve patient outcomes.
Although life-saving in selected patients, ECMO treatment still has high mortality which for a large part is due to treatment-related complications. A feared complication is ischemic stroke for which ...heparin is routinely administered for which the dosage is usually guided by activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). However, there is no relation between aPTT and the rare occurrence of ischemic stroke (1.2%), but there is a relation with the much more frequent occurrence of bleeding complications (55%) and blood transfusion. Both are strongly related to outcome.
We will conduct a three-arm non-inferiority randomized controlled trial, in adult patients treated with ECMO. Participants will be randomized between heparin administration with a target of 2-2.5 times baseline aPTT, 1.5-2 times baseline aPTT, or low molecular weight heparin guided by weight and renal function. Apart from anticoagulation targets, treatment will be according to standard care. The primary outcome parameter is a combined endpoint consisting of major bleeding including hemorrhagic stroke, severe thromboembolic complications including ischemic stroke, and mortality at 6 months.
We hypothesize that with lower anticoagulation targets or anticoagulation with LMWH during ECMO therapy, patients will have fewer hemorrhagic complications without an increase in thromboembolic complication or a negative effect on their outcome. If our hypothesis is confirmed, this study could lead to a change in anticoagulation protocols and a better outcome for patients treated with ECMO.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04536272 . Registered on 2 September 2020. Netherlands Trial Register NL7969.
In a randomized trial, patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who received extracorporeal CPR and those who received conventional CPR had similar results for survival and favorable neurologic ...outcomes.
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