Artificial organs
-
Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is indicated in reversible life-threatening circulatory failure with or without respiratory failure. Arterial desaturation in the upper body is frequently seen in patients with peripheral arterial cannulation and severe respiratory failure. The importance of venous cannula positioning was explored in a computer simulation model and a clinical case was described. ⋯ The patient survived, was extubated and showed no signs of hypoxic damage. We conclude that venous drainage from the superior caval vein improves upper body arterial saturation during veno-arterial ECMO as compared with drainage solely from the inferior caval vein in patients with respiratory failure. The results from the simulation model are in agreement with the clinical scenario.
-
The objective of this study was to evaluate an alternative neonatal extracorporeal life support (ECLS) circuit with a RotaFlow centrifugal pump and Better-Bladder (BB) for hemodynamic performance and gaseous microemboli (GME) capture in a simulated neonatal ECLS system. The circuit consisted of a Maquet RotaFlow centrifugal pump, a Quadrox-iD Pediatric diffusion membrane oxygenator, 8 Fr arterial cannula, and 10 Fr venous cannula. A "Y" connector was inserted into the venous line to allow for comparison between BB and no BB. ⋯ This study showed that a RotaFlow centrifugal pump combined with a BB can help to significantly decrease the number of GME in a neonatal ECLS circuit. Even with this optimized alternative circuit, a large percentage of the total hemodynamic energy was lost. The arterial cannula was the main source of resistance in the circuit.
-
The objective of this study is to evaluate electrocardiography (ECG)-synchronized pulsatile flow under varying heart rates and different atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in a simulated extracorporeal life support (ECLS) system. The ECLS circuit consisted of an i-cor diagonal pump and console, an iLA membrane ventilator, and an 18 Fr arterial cannula. The circuit was primed with lactated Ringer's solution and packed red blood cells (hematocrit 35%). ⋯ The i-cor console successfully tracked electrocardiographic signals of 12 atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Our results demonstrated that the i-cor pulsatile ECLS system can be synchronized with a normal heart rate or with various atrial/ventricular arrhythmias. Further in vivo studies are warranted to confirm our findings.
-
Lower-extremity ischemia is a significant complication in children on femoral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO). Our institution currently routinely uses distal perfusion catheters (DPCs) in all femoral arterial cannulations in attempts to reduce ischemia. We performed a single-center, retrospective review of pediatric patients supported with femoral VA ECMO from January 2005 to November 2015. ⋯ We demonstrate feasibility of superficial femoral artery (SFA) access in pediatric patients. We note fewer ischemic complications with prophylactic DPC placement, and observe that salvaging a limb with a reactive DPC was only successful 50% of the time. Although there was no statistical difference in the primary outcome between the two groups, limitations and confounding factors include small sample size and a greater percentage of patients in the prophylactic DPC group cannulated with ECPR in progress.
-
Outcomes for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) have been described for patients with single ventricle physiology (SVP) undergoing cavopulmonary connection (Glenn procedure). An alternative surgical pathway for patients with SVP consists of an initial hybrid procedure followed by a comprehensive Stage II procedure. No data exist describing the outcomes of patients requiring ECMO after the comprehensive Stage II procedure. ⋯ Four patients (67%) were discharged alive after ECMO decannulation. Despite being a much more extensive surgical procedure, the morbidity and mortality after ECMO in patients undergoing the comprehensive Stage II procedure are similar to those in patients undergoing the Glenn procedure. If needed, ECMO support is reasonable for patients after the comprehensive Stage II procedure.